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Wood body Grado cartridges ?

cafe latte said:
The Statement 2 is dark sounding, I prefer my Opus 3 to my Statement Reference 2.
Cart wise I have over 100 and I have heard thousands and I still rate the Opus very highly.
Main system is ATC SCM 100's DNM Pre AMP various power amps I use a lovely Mosfet one mostly but also swap out when I feel the need for valve and slot in my Conrad Pemier 4. Been using a Sutherland 20 20 phono stage recently lovely, but auditioning a Aesthetix Rhea 13k Australian but lovley.
I am not against Grado or their business model, I love Grado carts as you do, I am just pointing out what differences actually exist and what do not.
The Grado black is one of the biggest bargins in this hobby, how many other carts at that price can deliver 38dB separation, non I can think of?
Chris
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Nice system. Love the ATC speakers.
 
matteos said:
Grado does seem to be a little less than forthcoming when it comes to describing what is different about each cartridge….Think I might just have to buy a blue or an opus and see how much of a difference there really is in sound.
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I think that’s what needs to be done - especially if you suspect the cartridges are inconsistently built (and/or tuned..).

I get the impression from watching their youtube video interview, that they’re sort of “winging it” - but you need to remember, Koetsu cartridges are hand-made too, as other high-end brands probably are.. Maybe some of you have multiples of one model that all sound a little different(?).

Sadly, I can’t afford several Koetsu Jade or Miyajima Madake models for comparison...! Sort of thinking they may be different from each other, depending on build date, or possibly which helper(s) was in the shop that day.

That said, I do like the sound of my Opus3 and intend to buy another.. Opus3 sounds good to me, for the price, especially.

Duane
 
MisterDK said:
I think that’s what needs to be done - especially if you suspect the cartridges are inconsistently built (and/or tuned..).

I get the impression from watching their youtube video interview, that they’re sort of “winging it” - but you need to remember, Koetsu cartridges are hand-made too, as other high-end brands probably are.. Maybe some of you have multiples of one model that all sound a little different(?).

Sadly, I can’t afford several Koetsu Jade or Miyajima Madake models for comparison...! Sort of thinking they may be different from each other, depending on build date, or possibly which helper(s) was in the shop that day.

That said, I do like the sound of my Opus3 and intend to buy another.. Opus3 sounds good to me, for the price, especially.

Duane
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Opus 3 has some very nice pricing, it’s only a few dollars more than the gold. Going by what was said it seems to me like the Blue might be a great buy for $160, especially as a regular cartridge it is more versatile in installation. But then the jump ought to be to the Opus with the wood body. To me it looks like gold might be a wast of time.. $260 for the gold but only $275 for the Opus.

I’m loving my Sonata 3, but I think I’m going to get myself a blue to see how they compare.
 
lsipes1965 said:
Been meaning to ask you….how do you describe the difference in sound between the Black3 and Opus. I’ve got a Black3, so know what it sounds like with the stock stylus.
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On my system with stock Opus, the black is a bit more muddled and highs don't seem quite as good, not in an extended way just not as clean. I feel most of this is thr wood damping and more again is gained when you go low output.
Chris
 
cafe latte said:
On my system with stock Opus, the black is a bit more muddled and highs don't seem quite as good, not in an extended way just not as clean. I feel most of this is thr wood damping and more again is gained when you go low output.
Chris
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This brings up another question….what pres are you guys with LO Grados using? I’ve got an XTZ that just doesn’t get the playing time everyone else does at 1.5Mv out. Andrew Rothwell recommends the Headspace II….but it only goes up to 1.5K loading. An extra 10db of gain I think would almost be perfect
 
lsipes1965 said:
This brings up another question….what pres are you guys with LO Grados using? I’ve got an XTZ that just doesn’t get the playing time everyone else does at 1.5Mv out. Andrew Rothwell recommends the Headspace II….but it only goes up to 1.5K loading. An extra 10db of gain I think would almost be perfect
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Two very flexible phono preamps for that are MoFi Studio Phono (multiple gain options and 47k loading available at all), and Clearaudio Nano V2 (two gain options but has potentiometer for output level adjustment). Also 47k option.
 
The WP-designed phono stage is what we're going to use when our LO version arrives. Just a few more days I suspect. We also have a Tavish and Ph16, all three more than enough gain.
 
matteos said:
Opus 3 has some very nice pricing, it’s only a few dollars more than the gold. Going by what was said it seems to me like the Blue might be a great buy for $160, especially as a regular cartridge it is more versatile in installation. But then the jump ought to be to the Opus with the wood body. To me it looks like gold might be a wast of time.. $260 for the gold but only $275 for the Opus.

I’m loving my Sonata 3, but I think I’m going to get myself a blue to see how they compare.
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Not sure about the recent versions but the blue I have with an 8MZ stylus isn't the equal of the original Platinum.
 
lsipes1965 said:
The Platinum probably had a nude mount diamond didn’t it? I think 8MZ’s have only been available bonded last several years?
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Bonded

Some make way too much of the stones mounting, my current favorite budget LOMC has a bonded stylus.

Michael Fremer said of the original Platinum something along the lines of "with this sounding so good is there any reason to go farther up the line?"

When I get it re-tipped it will get a nude mount but I really don't see it changing the character of the cartridge much if at all.
 
lsipes1965 said:
So I guess it’s down to coil windings or the stylus generator differences. Beenyears and I’m still trying to decipher differences.
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Edited my previous post, but in answer to your recent thinking I'm thinking it has way more to do with the wood body and it's potting into the body.
 
lsipes1965 said:
So I guess it’s down to coil windings or the stylus generator differences. Beenyears and I’m still trying to decipher differences.
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How about selection amongst production variance? Zu is very forthright about their practice of charging more for better testing carts (modified Denons.)
 
Sgt Shultz said:
Bonded

Some make way too much of the stones mounting, my current favorite budget LOMC has a bonded stylus.

Michael Fremer said of the original Platinum something along the lines of "with this sounding so good is there any reason to go farther up the line?"

When I get it re-tipped it will get a nude mount but I really don't see it changing the character of the cartridge much if at all.
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It does not change the character, but if you get a Micro ridge or similar tracking improves and highs and fine detail improves. If you get a boron cantilever retip this further reduces moving mass and improves stiffness so you get a faster even more detailed sound. Stock they are fab, modded they are amazing.
Chris
 
FauxHall said:
How about selection amongst production variance? Zu is very forthright about their practice of charging more for better testing carts (modified Denons.)
Click to expand...
They really are all very good re differences, I would say 90+ percent are almost identical, the other 10% will have tiny differences re coil resistance which makes almost no difference in real terms. The only real quibble I have with the Opus 3 is the wooden body looks like it has been glued to generator by a chimp. Almost not are straight. Sonically this makes no difference at all but it would not be hard to get it right.
Chris
 
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