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Ortofon SPU Cartridges

LazySounds

LazySounds

Active Member
Being a man of modest means with various financial commitments, it is highly unlikely that I will ever see my way clear to owning an Ortofon SPU cartridge.

But from what I have sean on the internet, the look fantastic.

How do they sound?
Is the heavy tracking an issue for vinyl wear?
Are they actually value for money?
 
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I had one back in the 70s on an SME 3009 arm and a Thorens TD-124 table along with the Ortofon step up transformers. It was an excellent, excellent performer into a McIntosh MX-110 tuner/preamp. The whole set up was stolen, however, and I've never gotten over that in some ways.

Today, however, any original SPU cart will likely have aging problems with the suspension system which would require a rebuilding to make right. As for the value/$$, that's going to be a good one today. Frankly, I've pretty much settled for an Shure M97 of the latest vintage and have found that the Laws of Diminishing Returns catches up with you quickly after that.

Yes, they were heavy trackers, which flew in the face at the time of lighter and lighter tracking. This was a selling differentiator for Shure and most all cartridge manufacturers followed along. Ortofon SPUs and Denon's DL-103s were the exceptions. Again, I found that the SPU tracked just fine at around 2 gms and I never worried about LP damage.

Remember, though, that I am posting with 40 year old memories so take it for what its worth.

Cheers,

David
 
The world's finest broadcasting organizations used boatloads of Ortofon SPU moving coils as well as EMT MC cartridges. Money was no object back then for the likes of NRK, Radio Sweden, Danish Radio, the German broadcasters, the Australian ABC, and more. All the above were SPU users. And record wear was required to be low. And back then Studio Engineers handled the records.
 
Thank you for your responses.

I find vinyl reproduction, not just musically rewarding, but fascinating on a technical and historical level too.

The SPU line of cartridges have a simple "heavy duty" kind of beauty that has me hooked, unfortunately all of them are well outside my price range.

I will however be in Hong Kong over christmas, so i might investigate a Denon DL103.
 
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