Who Is An Expert On Acutex Cartridges?

Timel, I have always felt, and occasionally stated here, that for high compliance cartridges, in theory there is not much energy that needs to be dissipated from the cartridge body, because the cantilever and suspension dissipate most of it.  I would think that something like the Cartridge Enhancer or a solid spacer would make much more difference for  a low compliance type.  I don't know whether this works out to be true or not, in practice, and the answer probably also varies depending upon the tonearm and the efficiency with which it is damped, or not damped. Yes, I look forward to a sapphire/line contact jubilee.  Not only those three cartridges, but I also have a Grace Ruby with the SS OCL re-tip.  So, 4 different cartridges with sapphire and OCL tips.  The Grace/OCL is quite nice.

Last night, I listened first to my AT ART-9, and then I installed my Acutex M 320 LPM cartridge. I was astonished how good the Acutex sounded. It makes me realize I need to fine tune the setup on the ART 9.

The Acutex made the best sounding music I've heard on the Garrard 401/Denon 501 arm, and Modwright SWP 9.0 SE phono pre.

The new (to me) Herron VTSP-3A preamp has illuminated the strength of ancillary components as never before. Makes me want to listen to more of the LP collection again. The M 320 LPM is a keeper, I'll want to check out the 415 again soon.

Regards,

Dan

Dan, I think you are inferring that you like the LPM320 slightly above the ART9.  There's no shame in that, in my opinion. 

Timeltel, I finally auditioned the B&O MMC20CL in its B&O Saturn V-like adapter.  The assembly is so light I could hardly counterbalance it.  I set VTF at about 1.2g, based on the age of the cartridge, even though it was sitting in a box all of its life in my ownership. Wow! I was floored, in a good way. Bass was a little shy, which I expect is partly due to lack of use, but the mids are wonderful and the treble is perhaps more extended than any cartridge I've heard on my Beveridge system. (Modified Lenco TT bearing a Dynavector DV505 tonearm into a slightly modified Manley Steelhead driving Beveridge amplifiers/speakers.)  Well, one is usually euphoric after the first audition of a good cartridge.  We'll see how it shakes out over time.  Anyway, I don't miss the MMC1 right now.  Compare to Acutex?  Not yet.

Lewm,

I see you also use a Dynavector arm, in my case a 501 that I've had to rebuild the arm lift assembly on, and rewire. I love this tonearm, though I wonder how much difference there is from the newer models.

Any comment? Very curious regarding information about the Dyna arms.

Regards,,

Dan

I own a DV 501 tonearm also, but I have never used it. Years ago it was given to me by a close friend who has since passed away, and I believe he never used it either. So in effect  mine is brand new. Those who have used both the DV 505 and the 501 have written that they prefer the sound of the 501, at least some of them. I have not been able to test this proposition, because I use the 505 on my Lenco . For the Lenco I built a slate plinth which has no provision for mounting a tonearm except by bolting it to the top surface of the slab. So I am limited to surface mounted tonearms like the 505. None of the other Dynavector tonearms will work.