New Cartridge? new Preamp? or upgrade?

[ab1962]

Hi All,

Have Systemdek IIXE (external switched 33/45 psu) with SME 3009 series ii improved tone arm with FD 200 damper fitted. Cartridge fitted as a stop gap is a Grado Black. The preamp is a Quad 34, Power amp is RB 960BX with Rega ELA mk II speakers.

I want to upgrade the Cartridge and the preamp.

The quandaries, in no particular order, are these

I want a more extended bass with more attack and definition, with a more open and transparent mid range/treble and so on, but I am wary of fatigue.

How much Cartridge and preamp does this turntable/tone arm warrant. Ortofon Blue, bronze, Goldring 1042, Dynavector 10x5, Audio-Technica AT-OC9ML/II? other MM or MC?

There is concern that the SME 3009 ii arm is not well suited to MC's, but with the damper kit and paddle fitted they should be ok from a compliance point of view?

The Quad 34 phono stage RIAA correction is reputedly rolled off in the base and the capacitive load presented would make a modern cartridge sound too forward in the upper mid and treble ranges. Should I replace the Quad, or get it upgraded?

To upgrade the Quad is about £130 for new caps throughout and new Phono RIAA stage. I could specify the cartridge I would be using and then the upgrade would be tailored to that Cartridge.

I don't think I could buy a better preamp for £130 with an MC or MM phono stage?

Suggestions please

Thank you

 

[bare]

Not so sure.. Preamp Is the Very first suspect imo.
Quad products haven't weathered the Test of Time overly well.
Gear that was considered good by 'some' back then, Isn't, today.
I would look elsewhere, returning it to as new may help but a 'better' circuit is the real solution.
There are Dozens of.. Exquisite... DIY preamp projects scattered about the internet.
Take a long and serious look Before deciding.. either way.
As a very first start point in your search:
http://sound.westhost.com/project02.htm

 

[Mister Pig]

Personally I am not a fan of the Grado cartridges, for most of the reasons you list. So I would be looking to change it out. now the SME arm is not one of my favorite either, but it seems that people have had some success using the fluid damper and MC cartridges with it. Also current production MC cartridges are of higher compliance than ones that were around when the SME was newer, so they are a bit more compatible.

Saying what cartridge is going to work exactly for you is a tough decision, as each is unique in how it presents music. Given your requirements, I certainly would look at an offering from Goldring or Dynavector for sure. The 10X5 is high output so you won't need a step up transformer, and the 1042 is MM so that is not an issue either. Actually I am listening to an AT 33EV at the moment, and it is a lovely cartridge in its own right, and there are a few variants of the 33 design from the Japanese domestic market.

Of course you aren't going to get much of a pre-amp for the cost of updating the Quad. But I don't know how good it is after refreshing, or how flexible the phono stage becomes. But one of the better inexpensive phono stages I know if is the Vista Audio Phono 1. It might fall in your budget, and use it in the aux input of the Quad. Boris has moved many of the upgrades of the previous generation Phono 1+ into the current offering, and the price is lower.....so that is a great deal for the end user. I had the Phono 1+ here and it was a very nice phono stage, and its performance mimicked the abilities of my Liberty Audio B2B-1, which cost a great deal more.

Just a few possibilities.

Regards
Mister Pig

 

[WaynerN]

The Grado is not a good match with the 3009 arm. Grados like low to low medium mass arms. IMO, a different cart, like an MC designed for use with high mass tonearms is required.

Wayner

 

[sqlsavior]

Welcome to AK!

Not to add to your decision burden, but step-up transformers and passive preamps are additional options. If you substitute/upgrade one item at a time, you will learn more, and have more fun, than if you upgrade everything at once.

Happy listening!

 

[Rybeam]

Yeah, get rid of the Grado. My favorite? Get a Shure M 95 ed or a 97 xe and put a Jico SAS on it. Really, crazy good bargain. Heck it might be any cartridge a SAS is designed for.

 

[ab1962]

Hi All, Thanks for your comments. Thought I'd bring this up to date. Now Have Dynavector 10x5 and have Rega Fono Mini phono stage going into the Quad Line level Aux channel. Wow! What a difference. I am guessing the cart is now run in to, as I seem to have stopped reaching for the tone controls. :-D