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Mono Cartridge choices for late 40s/50s/60s Jazz

F

fedoragent

New Member
Folks,

I am thinking of getting a mono cartridge. Specifically the Denon DL-102 Moving Coil. I listen to ALOT of 50s jazz in mono. This moving coil is going to need a step up transformer. Before I go down this road, I would like to see what others are using for MONO cartridges. What are you using?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Regards,

FG.
 
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Actually, the DL-102 is a HOMC, so no step-up needed.

I use a Shure M35X with a .7mil conical stylus for mono duty.
 
The old GE VR-II or RPX do a nice job on mono stuff, and 78 as well. They are heavy and will want a fairly massy arm to work right though, and it will need a hole through the top of the headshell if you have a triple play version with the knob. Nails for them are dirt cheap too, which can be a bonus if you end up with some questionable records, and I have seen both 0.7 and 1.0 mil sizes for them.
 
gadget73 said:
The old GE VR-II or RPX do a nice job on mono stuff, and 78 as well. They are heavy and will want a fairly massy arm to work right though, and it will need a hole through the top of the headshell if you have a triple play version with the knob. Nails for them are dirt cheap too, which can be a bonus if you end up with some questionable records, and I have seen both 0.7 and 1.0 mil sizes for them.
Click to expand...

See, that is the problem. I have a Dual 701 that I want to play them on but the headshells do not have the hole on the top...crap.

FG.
 
I posted a similar thread awhile back and Kent Teffeteller suggested a mono stylus for my Shure M97xe. Use it a lot for my Ellington Basie and Fitzgerald mono
 
fedoragent said:
See, that is the problem. I have a Dual 701 that I want to play them on but the headshells do not have the hole on the top...crap.

FG.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that table's arm has low mass...
The DL-102 might not like that.

Perhaps a Grado mono cart is a better choice?

tnmike1 said:
I posted a similar thread awhile back and Kent Teffeteller suggested a mono stylus for my Shure M97xe. Use it a lot for my Ellington Basie and Fitzgerald mono
Click to expand...

Which stylus are you using? There is no such thing as a "mono stylus" for the M97xE, but a Shure N35X will fit the M97xE body and work very well with vintage mono records.
 
The 701 is not a ULM model. I bought the Denon DL-102 because the price was right, I wanted TRUE mono and it will work on my TT. :)

FG.
 
Folks, I was able to get the DL-102 installed and am listening to it now. It sounds pretty amazing. The cart itself is REALLY heavy and my Dual 701 arm is coping pretty well. I may mount this on another turntable that has a heavier duty tone arm. It is a really really quiet cartridge. It works well with my tube integrated amp. But so far, it sounds like smooth velvet. Really beautiful, clean and crisp highs with smooth mids. Bass response is pretty good, but I can't seem to hear all the bass too well as I can't crank it up. It's late here and my neighbors would have a conniption. First initial impressions are that it is a good but HEAVY cartridge. Steady performer. As they have discontinued this cart, if I end up liking this a great deal I may buy another one to just keep around for the future. It's a drag that with moving coils you can't replace the stylus like with a MM cart. I would suggest this as a purchase to anyone interested. So far listening to Beatles and Jazz in mono have been nothing less that magnificent.

FG.
 
One other thing is that vocals seem really really realistic as if they are performing in the room that I'm in. Amazing, I've never heard a Moving Coil before. So far I am impressed.
 
fedoragent said:
Bass response is pretty good, but I can't seem to hear all the bass too well as I can't crank it up.
Click to expand...

Give it time to break in, and the bass will likely reveal itself more.

As they have discontinued this cart
Click to expand...

Say what? I did not know this! (A quick web search backs this up. Why the heck is Denon discontinuing so many of their classic cartridges??)

I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying it!
 
beatcomber said:
Give it time to break in, and the bass will likely reveal itself more.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was thinking that was the case. The coil needs the chance to adjust to moving and settle and such.

beatcomber said:
Say what? I did not know this! (A quick web search backs this up. Why the heck is Denon discontinuing so many of their classic cartridges??)
Click to expand...

They are probably discontinuing it to introduce something 'better'.

beatcomber said:
I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying it!
Click to expand...

I am, but dang this thing is HEAVY for my tone arm. I'm thinking of using my Dual 1015 or 1219 for this duty instead of my Dual 701.
 
beatcomber said:
I was thinking of getting one for my 1019, but I had concerns that that giant cartridge might not fit the sled.
Click to expand...

I have a 1014, 1219 and 701. It fits the sled. In fact I'm probably going to try and just have my 1014 as a mono table. In fact, I've even though of using the 1219 I have.
 
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