How to tell if any given cartridge will fit my TT?

[LingLing1337]

Hey all, I have a Dual 604 TT that needs a new cartridge. Basically like the title says, how can I tell if a cartridge will fit it? I'm looking at the Grado Black, which seems like a great deal, but I wonder if it will fit my TT. Thanks.

 

[NightOwl]

The Grado Black is an excellent cartridge and would be suitable for your Dual. However a lot of people have experienced Grados humming at a low level from certain turntable motors, especially Regas and Duals (google "Grado hum").
The other cartridge I would recommend in that price range is a Shure M97xe.
If you wanted to spend a little more, an Audio-Technica AT440mla would be a step up but would be harder to align correctly. LP Gear has this at the best price I've seen in a while at $119.99.

 

[nycbone]

I use a Grado Black with my AR-XA and am very happy with it. Hum is only noticeable when volume levels are too loud for listening to music (i.e., not a problem). Acoustic Sounds carries the Black for $48 (best deal I could find). If your headshell accepts standard mount cartridges, you're all set. The Black also comes in a p-mount version. I've read that the M97XE is a very good cartridge, but somewhat difficult to align (few straight edges to use as a guide). You can find alignment protractors a Vinyl Engine. I use the Baerwald (in the 'stupid' protractors section), which works well for the Black and my tonearm. No noticeable inner groove distortion with my set up.

Do you have cartridge for your tt? If so, what model?

Here's the manual for your tt (you'll have to register):
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/dual/604.shtml

It accepts 4.5 to 10g cartridges with 1/2" mounting holes. The tt comes with a 'cartridge holder' of some sort. I'm not sure if that's equivalent to a headshell of if it's an adaptor. See page 14.

 

[NightOwl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nycbone /img/forum/go_quote.gif If your headshell accepts standard mount cartridges, you're all set. The Black also comes in a p-mount version. I've read that the M97XE is a very good cartridge, but somewhat difficult to align (few straight edges to use as a guide). Do you have cartridge for your tt? If so, what model? Here's the manual for your tt (you'll have to register): Dual 604 Owners Manual, Service Manual, Schematics, Free Download | Vinyl Engine It accepts 4.5 to 10g cartridges with 1/2" mounting holes. The tt comes with a 'cartridge holder' of some sort. I'm not sure if that's equivalent to a headshell of if it's an adaptor. See page 14.

It does accept standard cartridges (which are those with 1/2" mounting holes).

The "cartridge holder" is an adapter plate that snaps in and out of the headshell. You snap it out, mount the catrtridge to it, and snap it back in. This will make it easier to align a cartridge like a M97xe to the plate. The Duals used to come with a small plastic gauge that allowed you to align the catrtridge on the plate while out of the headshell and have almost perfect geometry without the need of a protractor. If you don't have this, then it becomes a PITA as you have to mount the cartridge, check alignment with a protractor, then snap it out, adjust it on the adapter, snap it back in, check again, etc.

Duals have low to medium mass arms so you have to use a fairly compliant cartridge similar to the ones previously mentioned. They don't usually work well with moving coil cartridges. They used to come with Ortofon cartridges as standard. An Ortofon would work very well in the arm, but the cheapest one that is comparable/better to the ones previously mentioned is an OMB20 which sells for about $200.

nycbone's question about which cartridge you already have is good, since you may just be able to replace/upgrade the stylus and not have to go through the hassle of alignment.

 

[LingLing1337]

^Thanks for the info. I'll go check what cartridge I have.

EDIT: It's some sort of Acutex. No model no. to indicate the, well, model.

 

[NightOwl]

Better to replace the cartridge then. This is an old cartridge and any stylii available will also be old or questionable aftermarket quality. Any of the ones suggested are better cartridges.

 

[THE_SOURCE41]

I am also wondering what kind of cartridge my yamaha yp-d6 takes. I haven't been able to find it anywhere.

 

[NightOwl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE_SOURCE41 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am also wondering what kind of cartridge my yamaha yp-d6 takes. I haven't been able to find it anywhere.

It takes standard 1/2" mount cartridges. The tonearm appears to be a medium mass s-shaped arm typical of Japanese turntables of that class and era. LP Gear recommends an Audio-Technica AT95e as the replacement for the Yamaha cartridge that came with the table originally.
A Grado Black or Shure M97xe would probably work as well. The AT440mla might be too compliant for that arm.
Your table was part of the YP-D4, YP-D6, YP-D8, YP-D10 series that Yamaha had out in the late 70's, early 80's. The D4 and D6 were similar. The D8 and D10 had different arms and specs. Nice looking turntables. I never heard one personally, but I never heard anyone complain about them.
IIRC the only limitation was that the height of the tonearm wasn't adjustable so that you couldn't fine tune the VTA for cartridges that were taller or lower than average. Not a problem for most cartridges.

 

[THE_SOURCE41]

Thanks NightOwl