It makes it sound very open and responsive. MC like detail and bizzarely 3D soundfield.Oh?, Do tell please!
Wood body Grado cartridges ?
- Thread starter MisterDK
- Start date
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- grado grado woody
cafe latte
Addicted Member
The two reasons for MC carts are low moving mass and a clean accurate square wave.
The Grado too has low moving mass like a MC and even the high output Grado has such low inductance it has a clean accurate square wave. The low output version is better again just like a MC.
Chris
Just don't put one on a Rega table, they HUM quit a bit (Regas lack of a ground wire maybe ???) .
lsipes1965
Member
If I get a clean head amp I’ll probably buy the LO Opus. I’ve already got the XTZ, might as well have a LO stablemate
By the way, Anyone….I was asking Andrew Rothwell about his tube pre(not in production currently), and he suggested the Headspace II as a head amp for the XTZ. After taking a look…..loading only goes to 1.5K. He know something I don’t? How would this work with a Grado?
MisterDK
Addicted Member
Not likely to happen - sold my Planar 3 a couple years ago.. No plans to acquire another Rega..
From what I've read, it's more about AC motors and Grados being "unshielded." My ears tell me that Grado cartridges don't hum any more on a Rega than they do on a Linn (which has a separate ground wire), and in both cases it was at a low enough level that I only heard it, faintly, once the cartridge got to the lead-out groove. I heard no hum at all on my Well Tempered; it also had an AC motor, but it was mounted farther away from the path the cartridge took than on Linns and Regas. With a Grado, I also needed to move my preamp farther away as my usual location on the shelf just under the turntable caused a hum issue.
As to this thread's topic of wood body cartridges, my only experience is with a low output Statement Platinum1 and using Grado's own phono stage. Sounded great, but not enough difference over the also great Prestige Green to want to spend the extra money or lose the convenience of user-replaceable styli once the stylus was worn out.
Yes! This AT3600L fan says $24 replacement styli rule! However, I don't balk at the $39 cost of a Sumiko Oyster stylus, and even the $75 price for a Grado Green stylus isn't too bad (but that's the upper limit of what I'd be willing to pay for a stylus).
MisterDK
Addicted Member
Interesting. My Opus3 is on a Sony 2251 AC motor direct drive. Motor looks fairly big, too..
I suspect that the old “Grado hum” could be a thing of the past.
From Grado’s site: “A new two-step shielding process brings not only exact unison between the four coils but an unobstructed path for a cleaner signal”
Maybe Rega tables and Grado’s series 3 carts can finally get along..
adnick
Addicted Member
My wood body Sonata plays without hum on the Russco Studio Pro and on the ROK TR43H both have AC motors right underneath the platter….Interesting. My Opus3 is on a Sony 2251 AC motor direct drive. Motor looks fairly big, too..
I suspect that the old “Grado hum” could be a thing of the past.
From Grado’s site: “A new two-step shielding process brings not only exact unison between the four coils but an unobstructed path for a cleaner signal”
Maybe Rega tables and Grado’s series 3 carts can finally get along..
Andy
I’m sure it’s not, certainly doesn’t look as cool as the woodies. I ordered a couple of blues though, going to send one to my nephew that’s gotten bitten with the turntable bug and I think I’ll install the other on my other arm and see how well it measures up. If it’s the equal of say a Denon 103r I’ll be pretty pleased with it.
Ilikevinyl
Cool Breeze
Have the Opus3 & Gold3. The Gold3 sounds almost exactly like the Opus3. Opus3 vocals are better, cleaner sounding. Opus3 is definitely the better buy!
Nice. And they are almost the same price point too. The Opus looks way cooler too.
Ilikevinyl
Cool Breeze
Yes, and you get the custom hinged wood box with the Opus3, like the higher priced woody cartridges.
Definitely a bargain. 
cafe latte
Addicted Member
No unfortunately not, a customer had an Opus on a Rega and it hummed. They are more resistant to hum than thr older models but they will still hum on a Rega.Interesting. My Opus3 is on a Sony 2251 AC motor direct drive. Motor looks fairly big, too..
I suspect that the old “Grado hum” could be a thing of the past.
From Grado’s site: “A new two-step shielding process brings not only exact unison between the four coils but an unobstructed path for a cleaner signal”
Maybe Rega tables and Grado’s series 3 carts can finally get along..
Chris
cafe latte
Addicted Member
Maybe the motor has a shield like the motor on my Commonwealth idler. It looks like a can over thr motor, simple but it works well no hum with Opus on that table either.
Chris
Redd House
If she dont love me no more I know her sister will
They now cost $300.
cafe latte
Addicted Member
Prices have not gone up yet here in Australia ( 400 Australian).
Chris
lsipes1965
Member
Not sure where it’s 300, I got one this week for 275 shipped