gloco
Only one ban in 5000 attempts!
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2001
- Posts
- 7,047
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- 21
Hey Guys,
I finally got a replacement cartridge from Grado last week and quickly went home and installed it. The original cart had a bent stylli and Grado was kind enough to send me a brand new one (as far as I can tell...it looks immaculate unlike the one I sent in for repairs).
First thing I noticed...the cartridge hangs way too low close to the record to the point where it looks like it can easily bang or rub against a record. I don't recall having this issue with the previous gold cart. The stylli almost appears that it needs to be straightened out...I need to upload a pic so you can see it. It was shipped back to me properly, so I don't think it was damaged during shipping. It had a plastic guard over it to protect it.
Second thing, well...honestly...it doesn't sound all that warm and yummy with my speaker rig: Yamaha RX-V493>Rega R1 speakers. I'm using the Yamaha's phono preamp...its worked magic previously, but with the new cart everything sounds kinda...well...digital (blech!). Even my gf pointed out it doesn't have that vinyl sound. It just lacks warmth. I checked the tone controls on the receive to make sure they weren't getting in the way.
So I'm assuming a few things here:
1. The cart/stylus need to be configured properly. Is there an online guide? I have the shure tracking thing-a-jig to align the styus properly but don't know how to use it...if the instructions were included, I've lost them. Anti-skate? I have no clue what it does.
2. The cartridge needs some break-in/burn in.
3. I need a phono preamp. I have one of those cheap ones...sumiko I think. I tried it this past weekend and it hummed like a person...thanks, but no thanks. I have no clue what the problem is with it or if it even needs to be calibrated somehow for MM cartridges. It has some sort of diagram on it showing "settings" for MM or MC...don't have any clue how to set it up.
With the old cart, I only had my headphone rig and whatever records I put on, they sounded terrific (warm, punchy, musical). Now, it sounds cold as ice. I'll get some pics posted later tonight of the cart and see if anyone can chime in. Thanks for reading!
I finally got a replacement cartridge from Grado last week and quickly went home and installed it. The original cart had a bent stylli and Grado was kind enough to send me a brand new one (as far as I can tell...it looks immaculate unlike the one I sent in for repairs).
First thing I noticed...the cartridge hangs way too low close to the record to the point where it looks like it can easily bang or rub against a record. I don't recall having this issue with the previous gold cart. The stylli almost appears that it needs to be straightened out...I need to upload a pic so you can see it. It was shipped back to me properly, so I don't think it was damaged during shipping. It had a plastic guard over it to protect it.
Second thing, well...honestly...it doesn't sound all that warm and yummy with my speaker rig: Yamaha RX-V493>Rega R1 speakers. I'm using the Yamaha's phono preamp...its worked magic previously, but with the new cart everything sounds kinda...well...digital (blech!). Even my gf pointed out it doesn't have that vinyl sound. It just lacks warmth. I checked the tone controls on the receive to make sure they weren't getting in the way.
So I'm assuming a few things here:
1. The cart/stylus need to be configured properly. Is there an online guide? I have the shure tracking thing-a-jig to align the styus properly but don't know how to use it...if the instructions were included, I've lost them. Anti-skate? I have no clue what it does.
2. The cartridge needs some break-in/burn in.
3. I need a phono preamp. I have one of those cheap ones...sumiko I think. I tried it this past weekend and it hummed like a person...thanks, but no thanks. I have no clue what the problem is with it or if it even needs to be calibrated somehow for MM cartridges. It has some sort of diagram on it showing "settings" for MM or MC...don't have any clue how to set it up.
With the old cart, I only had my headphone rig and whatever records I put on, they sounded terrific (warm, punchy, musical). Now, it sounds cold as ice. I'll get some pics posted later tonight of the cart and see if anyone can chime in. Thanks for reading!