Zanth
SHAman who knew of Head-Fi ten years prior to its existence
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2001
- Posts
- 9,570
- Likes
- 44
It has been a tough 22 odd months. My cartridge was dying and I had to avoid playing vinyl as much as possible as to protect my wonderful black discs. The last time I played vinyl using my cart was sometime last summer and frequent playback...sometime the summer before that.
Friday I received a new cartridge...upgrading from my Koetsu Black (which came with my table) I now have a Grado Statement. I was having trouble setting it up on Friday night but by Saturday I had recalled how to set one up properly and went to task getting it sounding just right. I still have to test the antiskating to make it perfect, same with VTA, but aside from OCD perfections...the system is producing sublime musical enjoyment.
I once read that the Grado Statement is what a Koetsu should hope to be. That is saying a lot as many know the Koetsu line is renowned for its lush, warm life-like sound. As low-MC tech, the highs are tipped up but not so much with the Koetsu line. Some say they are even rolled off in the highs. At least perhaps the lower end models. I never experienced that but then I think many enjoy the harder brighter top ends of the leaner MC carts. Regardless, the Koetsu Black is a wonderful sounding cart and going up the line one apparently achieves nirvana. Thus, when I read that the top Grado not only competed well with these carts but bested them in every way I was very very intrigued.
The Grado Statement is Moving Iron. I've read through the tech a few times and I still need to wrap my mind around it (I'm a pictures person) but what I do know is that when Grado went to low output MI technology many jumped on the bandwagon as it seemed to eliminate the prevalence of "Grado Hum" which occurred with some tables with a lot of RI as well as increasingly the overall low level detail and black ground while listening.
Figuring I would just get my Black retipped when the time came, a well respected friend of mine commented that he had set up the Statement in a megabuck system for a super diehard vinyl fanatic. After doing so, this perpetual tweaker had finally stopped swapping carts every other month (but he still swaps amps a lot apparently!). The cartridge was that good. Anytime I read about this cartridge I was sucked in by the allocades.
Despite me being a Grado headphone fan, being new to vinyl, I wasn't sure if Grado was the sound for me regarding carts. The first serious rig I ever ahd in my system used a Grado Prestige Gold. On that table, with that cart, I was sold on the vinyl deal and began my journey down the dark path.
Grado seemed to provide what I wanted in a sound and even though I really really enjoyed my Koetsu, I always wished for this or that aspect of the sound that the little Gold could do. I thought perhaps it was because the Koetsu was nearing the end of its useful life but in fact, it was merely the technology behind the Koetsu that was keeping me from total audio bliss.
This cartridge is still working itself in. I have maybe 5-6 hours on it and apparently it needs 20 to really open up and then 50 to be fully worked in. I'll enjoy the changes in sound. The top end is definitely not as tipped up as the Koetsu which I never thought was very tipped up but it is far from the presentation I've heard from other MC's. Yet, so far, I don't hear any missing details up there and of course the midrange is to die for. I've read countless times, that the best midrange, particularly for voices comes from this cart. I've only heard 5 carts in my life so I can't agree or disagree with that statement but I will say, I have a perpetual smile on my face while listening and I have no desire to change my setup in any way (well maybe a new phono cable
).
Anyhow, this is one happy head-fier over here. Working the mad hours I have been lately, it is grand to be able to spin vinyl while I work from home.
Friday I received a new cartridge...upgrading from my Koetsu Black (which came with my table) I now have a Grado Statement. I was having trouble setting it up on Friday night but by Saturday I had recalled how to set one up properly and went to task getting it sounding just right. I still have to test the antiskating to make it perfect, same with VTA, but aside from OCD perfections...the system is producing sublime musical enjoyment.
I once read that the Grado Statement is what a Koetsu should hope to be. That is saying a lot as many know the Koetsu line is renowned for its lush, warm life-like sound. As low-MC tech, the highs are tipped up but not so much with the Koetsu line. Some say they are even rolled off in the highs. At least perhaps the lower end models. I never experienced that but then I think many enjoy the harder brighter top ends of the leaner MC carts. Regardless, the Koetsu Black is a wonderful sounding cart and going up the line one apparently achieves nirvana. Thus, when I read that the top Grado not only competed well with these carts but bested them in every way I was very very intrigued.
The Grado Statement is Moving Iron. I've read through the tech a few times and I still need to wrap my mind around it (I'm a pictures person) but what I do know is that when Grado went to low output MI technology many jumped on the bandwagon as it seemed to eliminate the prevalence of "Grado Hum" which occurred with some tables with a lot of RI as well as increasingly the overall low level detail and black ground while listening.
Figuring I would just get my Black retipped when the time came, a well respected friend of mine commented that he had set up the Statement in a megabuck system for a super diehard vinyl fanatic. After doing so, this perpetual tweaker had finally stopped swapping carts every other month (but he still swaps amps a lot apparently!). The cartridge was that good. Anytime I read about this cartridge I was sucked in by the allocades.
Despite me being a Grado headphone fan, being new to vinyl, I wasn't sure if Grado was the sound for me regarding carts. The first serious rig I ever ahd in my system used a Grado Prestige Gold. On that table, with that cart, I was sold on the vinyl deal and began my journey down the dark path.
Grado seemed to provide what I wanted in a sound and even though I really really enjoyed my Koetsu, I always wished for this or that aspect of the sound that the little Gold could do. I thought perhaps it was because the Koetsu was nearing the end of its useful life but in fact, it was merely the technology behind the Koetsu that was keeping me from total audio bliss.
This cartridge is still working itself in. I have maybe 5-6 hours on it and apparently it needs 20 to really open up and then 50 to be fully worked in. I'll enjoy the changes in sound. The top end is definitely not as tipped up as the Koetsu which I never thought was very tipped up but it is far from the presentation I've heard from other MC's. Yet, so far, I don't hear any missing details up there and of course the midrange is to die for. I've read countless times, that the best midrange, particularly for voices comes from this cart. I've only heard 5 carts in my life so I can't agree or disagree with that statement but I will say, I have a perpetual smile on my face while listening and I have no desire to change my setup in any way (well maybe a new phono cable
Anyhow, this is one happy head-fier over here. Working the mad hours I have been lately, it is grand to be able to spin vinyl while I work from home.