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That Grado Opus3 Cartridge

CrSens said:
I don't think 300 hour model is sustainable business wise for MC cartridges (many are subgroup of elliptical and have 1.8-2 g tracking), it's just not happening.
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Agree, i am grado user and i can notices a lack of sound @600. Now I am the one that use one cart dedicated, Changing carts all the time could end damaging records because the stylus will never be in the same spot, so I finally decide one cart. @800 is time you need to change, depending the music passages you are listening.
AG.
 
I can confirm that the new Grado3 Prestige models are back to being as good as the old tan bodies. I'm sure the Timbre stuff rocks, but if you have the pre-Grado1 series black bodied Grados you could grab a Blue3. You will be impressed. Even the Grado1 iterations were better than the prior black bodies by quite a bit.
 
Andre Garcia said:
Agree, i am grado user and i can notices a lack of sound @600. Now I am the one that use one cart dedicated, Changing carts all the time could end damaging records because the stylus will never be in the same spot, so I finally decide one cart. @800 is time you need to change, depending the music passages you are listening.
AG.
Click to expand...
Pop over to vinyl engine and ook at the wear studies, 800 is well and truely past an elliptical finish point tracking at 1.7g. A shibata is worn out at 800 hours with a far bigger contact area, even Micro ridge are getting to the end of life, but a Micro ridge should manage 1000. At 800 hours with an elliptical at 1.7g you will be bottoming out.
Chris
 
cafe latte said:
Pop over to vinyl engine and ook at the wear studies, 800 is well and truely past an elliptical finish point tracking at 1.7g. A shibata is worn out at 800 hours with a far bigger contact area, even Micro ridge are getting to the end of life, but a Micro ridge should manage 1000. At 800 hours with an elliptical at 1.7g you will be bottoming out.
Chris
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What about conical?

I have an Opus 3, and it's a cool cartridge.
 
maxhifi said:
What about conical?

I have an Opus 3, and it's a cool cartridge.
Click to expand...
Yes the Opus is an amazing cart.
Elliptical last the shortest time, 0.2 lasts less that 0.3x0.7 at the same tracking force. Conical last LONGER than elliptical at the same tracking force as they have a larger contact surface than elliptical. A rough guide of course dependant on stylus quaility and tracking force and how clean vinyl is is:
Elliptical 300 hours (0.3x0.7)
Conical 400 hours
Shibata 600-800 hours depending on the cut (two sizes)
Micro ridge over 1,000
The limiting factor with Micro ridge is not the Ridge or fin, even at over 1,000 hours there is sown to be fin left, the issue is as the fin wears down they get closer together (like all stylus) and eventually the blunt tip becomes sharp as the wear patches meet and then the stylus bottoms out. Ray postulated that if it was possible to blunt the tip you could get even more use before the fins wear out.
Chris
 
I have a high output Opus 3 and love it. Very musical sweet sounding cartridge. When it wears out I'm going to have Chris or Joseph retip it with a micro ridge.
 
Aside from tip wear.. I’ve read that the current Grados are shielded (?) and less susceptible to hum than past models. Do you guys find that to be true? Are direct-drives most susceptible to the Grado hum or is it table specific?
Also, is the lower output version more or less susceptible to hum than the high?

My latest table, one which I want to try this Opus3 on, is an early Sony direct drive - Sony’s first one in fact, and their flagship model - the 2251. Supposedly released around the same time or slightly after the first Technics SP-10. Has anyone by chance, used a Grado on this table, modern or vintage? Just thinking about that hum…

The Sony 2251:

IMG_5598.jpeg
 
MisterDK said:
Aside from tip wear.. I’ve read that the current Grados are shielded (?) and less susceptible to hum than past models. Do you guys find that to be true? Are direct-drives most susceptible to the Grado hum or is it table specific?
Also, is the lower output version more or less susceptible to hum than the high?

My latest table, one which I want to try this Opus3 on, is an early Sony direct drive - Sony’s first one in fact, and their flagship model - the 2251. Supposedly released around the same time or slightly after the first Technics SP-10. Has anyone by chance, used a Grado on this table, modern or vintage? Just thinking about that hum…

The Sony 2251:

View attachment 2902450
Click to expand...
The latest Grado's possibly have some special anti-magnetic coating inside, but they are not shielded in a classic way. They don't hum on any of my direct drives (Sansui, Technics), nor on Sansui belt drives, at least not enough to be noticable. They do hum on Rega, low output versions more and enough to be problematic. Hagerman Humbucker add on mostly fixes the issue on Rega, making it 15 dB less in level and enough to be not objectionable. I used Opus3 high output on P6, and it was OK with music (you can hear when not playing and close to spindle) even without Humbucker. Incidentally, I liked Opus3 on P6 more than Rega Ania and Fono MC which came with the table.
 
@CrSens - seems odd that they don’t hum on a big motor DD - but do with a small motor Rega.. :)

I suppose that for me, it’s pay the $ and find out… I suppose I could always try the Opus3 on a different table if it hums on that Sony. No shortage of tables here. ;)
 
MisterDK said:
@CrSens - seems odd that they don’t hum on a big motor DD - but do with a small motor Rega.. :)

I suppose that for me, it’s pay the $ and find out… I suppose I could always try the Opus3 on a different table if it hums on that Sony. No shortage of tables here. ;)
Click to expand...

Rega has a glass platter which offers no shielding from the magnetic field of the motor. Direct drive motors are usually quite well shielded, and used in conjunction with a metal platter. The Rega motor also operates at 50/60Hz, while the direct drive motor operates at a lower frequency which is less likely to be picked up.

Indeed, the Opus 3 hums on my Rega and not my Technics. With the humbucker though
it is tolerable and you can only really hear it at the lead out groove.
 
MisterDK said:
@CrSens - seems odd that they don’t hum on a big motor DD - but do with a small motor Rega.. :)

I suppose that for me, it’s pay the $ and find out… I suppose I could always try the Opus3 on a different table if it hums on that Sony. No shortage of tables here. ;)
Click to expand...
Well, Sansui SR-4050 belt drive has big strong motor, and no hum. It depends only on how much stray field motor is emitting (and how close it is). Small toy DC motors popular in today's belt drives, and right under the platter, are usually the worst.
 
I’ll be trying the Opus3 for my next new cartridge; been curious for a while. I’m sure it’ll sound quite a bit different than the AT’s I usualy use.. I’d be trying one already if I could stop buying other stuff.. Bought another turntable just last night…:rolleyes:
 
Have a Statement Sonata 2 low output that I like a lot….

VR
Andy

Rich pointed out that I used “Reference” when it should be “Statement” for low output
 
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Note: When I was a teenager I ran Shure M 70 EJ on a Dual for a time, I had the stylus inspected every 3 months, playing records 2-3 hours a day. Said stylus lasted me 18 months of use before first sign of wear flats, at which time I replaced it with genuine.
 
crts.JPG

Really enjoy my Grado Opus3! Also have a Gold3 but Opus3 is better with vocals. Opus3 is fussy about correct VTA, like all Grados. Have Opus3 tracking at 1.9 grams VTF, with anti-skating around just .6 grams. I have the High Output model. Bass is plentiful. Vocals are personable. Sounds very much like my Nagaoka MP-200. Opus3 a bit more warmer and rich sounding.
 
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