Uncoloured phono cartridges

[watchnerd]

I have been shocked by how good a new $49 AT VM95E can sound.

I need to get one of those.

A decent elliptical is a great 'everyman' cartridge.

 

[watchnerd]

I have an original pressing of this. I pulled it out to see if it is worth ripping with my carts. It has a scuff, a scratch, a good amount of surface noise from dust or whatever.

You should rip it anyway.

 

[Helicopter]

You should rip it anyway.

I need to make cables to go into the 2i2, but I can. It gets better after the scuff. Got my Analog Productions test LP today too.

 

[watchnerd]

I need to make cables to go into the 2i2, but I can. It gets better after the scuff. Got my Analog Productions test LP today too.

It would be cool to hear your VM540ML vs mine on the same record, different pressings.

 

[JP]

There are 10 dB harmonic distortion differences in the graphs @JPJ posted upthread.

And not like -90 vs -100. Like -10 vs -20.

That's not THD, that's the level the 2nd and 3rd harmonic are at that instantaneous frequency. To illustrate, this is the V15-VMR playing a 1kHz reference tone. THD is 0.51%.

[EDIT: Adding FR so both are in the same place]

 

[levimax]

Do you have the 103R or the 'regular' 103?

My DL-103 is the vanilla version.

But I've been contemplating getting the DL-A110 version just for....historical reasons, I guess.

I have the 103R.... not sure how much difference there really is...... I don't buy into 99.9999% pure copper making much difference although there are some other differences apparently. I have more the 500 hours ( a lot more) so probably time for a re-tip. The Denon carts have been around for 60 years for a reason.... carts aren't like DAC's with new technology coming out every month.... they pretty much had it down 60 years ago.

 

[watchnerd]

I have the 103R.... not sure how much difference there really is...... I don't buy into 99.9999% pure copper making much difference although there are some other differences apparently. I have more the 500 hours ( a lot more) so probably time for a re-tip. The Denon carts have been around for 60 years for a reason.... carts aren't like DAC's with new technology coming out every month.... they pretty much had it down 60 years ago.

They're so cheap, though; vanilla DL-103 is only $299.

Isn't it easier to just buy a new one?

Unless you want to re-tip to a different stylus / cant.

 

[levimax]

They're so cheap, though; vanilla DL-103 is only $299.

Isn't it easier to just buy a new one?

Unless you want to re-tip to a different stylus / cant.

The 103R's are up to $408 + tax on Amazon.... I only paid $250 for it a couple years ago. I was going to get it re-tipped with an elliptical which is $200.

 

[watchnerd]

@watchnerd Especially interested to hear a comparison between the VM540ml and the Art 9, if the inclination and opportunity for some rips arise.

Here you go:

The ART9XA is pretty low output (0.2mV) which requires a lot of gain and runs into the noise floor of the Devialet phono stage.

I made these without a SUT, so you may hear some hiss in the quiet parts, although I don't hear it through speakers unless my ear is next to the tweeter or I crank the volume way up with no music playing.

Kenny Burrell, "Chili Con Carne":

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cTLiquUHuNaDS1-ffnodxVnvk4hgt0lR/view?usp=sharing

Herbie Hancock, "Chameleon":

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qs4m4GFAnwyfGwzuTm9SwmsJ9CJVtFw0/view?usp=sharing

Dire Straits, "Telegraph Road":

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-99_hSAvqoiyimq_1f8Z5WOTvJf687zm/view?usp=sharing

Happy New Year!

 

[pastorbarrett]

Appreciate the considerable efforts! Will post back later after listening, thanks again

 

[pastorbarrett]

OK, useless subjective impressions incoming - cartridge B is more amenable to my ears and/or system.

As a value proposition, whichever it is, the AT is good, if not great, depending on outcome!

 

[Frank Dernie]

This may be a difference between playing over speakers vs headphones (speakers were off during rips), though, where sympathetic output from the speakers interacts with the TT in some way.

It does.
I found if you want to have a rip which sounds like playing the LP the added reverb of having the sound exciting the TT is an important part of getting the same sound recorded in the rip.

 

[watchnerd]

OK, useless subjective impressions incoming - cartridge B is more amenable to my ears and/or system.

As a value proposition, whichever it is, the AT is good, if not great, depending on outcome!

Just to be clear, the ART9XA files posted above are neither A nor B.

 

[JP]

Kenny Burrell, "Chili Con Carne":

Which pressing?

 

[pastorbarrett]

Just to be clear, the ART9XA files posted above are neither A nor B.

Yep, was referring to the first rip post. Have yet to give the 9XA a listen

 

[watchnerd]

Which pressing?

This one:

https://www.discogs.com/Kenny-Burrell-Midnight-Blue/release/13393479

I also have this one:

https://www.discogs.com/Kenny-Burrell-Midnight-Blue/release/3820882

 

[JP]

LOL. I thought, I have that series buy don't recall seeing Midnight Blue. I have both of those, plus both the Music Matters versions.

 

[watchnerd]

LOL. I thought, I have that series buy don't recall seeing Midnight Blue. I have both of those, plus both the Music Matters versions.

If it wasn't for Discogs, I would forget what I had.

In fact, I've re-purchased things I forgot I owned.

It took me several weeks to enter my collection, little by little, but now I'm glad I put in the effort.

 

[watchnerd]

I have both of those, plus both the Music Matters versions.

Do you have a preference amongst them?

 

[JP]

Never listened to the AP version before - giving it a listen now.