goldring or grado?


i have thorens td 126 mk3 +tp16 mk3.
please which is better the goldring 1042 or
the grado prestige gold for this combo?
thanks to you all.
eri
halevie61fb

Showing 1 response by sdcampbell

The previous post pretty much hits the nail on the head. I had a Thorens TD-126 Mk3 back in the late 1980's (with the same tonearm you have), and used a Grado cartridge with it (can't be sure about the model, but I think it was the "MZ"). The only mild criticism I had about this setup was the susceptibility of the Grado cartridge to hum from the turntable motor. It wasn't terribly noticeable, except on very quiet passages when the tonearm was close to the end of the LP (which placed the cartridge directly above the TT motor).

I have heard a lot of Grados (currently own the "Reference"), but only a couple of Goldrings. Of the two, and in my system, I preferred the sound of the Grado cartridges (I love that rich upper bass and mid-range, and the terrific musicality).

The only advice I'll offer is to get the best Grado you can afford. If your budget will allow it, I'd recommend the Grado Sonata as the best place to start. It has a higher quality cantilever assembly than the "budget" priced models, and offers much of the performance of the more expensive models.