The Grado TLZ used to be my one and only cartridge for many years. The XTZ is an upgrade that I never have heard but by all accounts it is at least as good if not better. I still have my TLZ, which must by now be nearly 40 years old. I've been meaning to listen to it again, but with any cartridge that has been in storage, I recommend an extensive break-in period. I would use tracks suitable for that, to be found on the Cardas test LP.
Fun with MM cartridge
Greetings,
I haven’t listened to a MM cartridge in over 35 years. Since I bought my first MC cartridge there was no need for me to listen to MM cartridges any longer. They just extract more music from records.
I have 3 turntables in my system, all with different MC cartridges. A few weeks ago I thought it would be fun to pull out one of my MM cartridges from my toy box and give it a listen. I installed a Grado XTZ on the TT. Gave it a listen, it sounded dull and lifeless. It’s a hard cartridge to drive, has a low output. I even move it to my MC input on my phono drive to get more gain. Same outcome. I was disappointed with the sound, since it has very few hours on it. Went to my toy box and installed a Grace F9E cartridge. Put on an album and gave it a listen. It put a big smile on my face. What a nice sounding cartridge. It had a good sound stage, bass was good, had good width, depth and height. Played a few more records, it is a fun cartridge to listen too.
I still prefer my MC cartridges but the F9E will stay on my TT for right now. Every once in a while I’ll listen to it, just to have fun.
Joe Nies
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@lewm thanks for the input. I’ll most likely give the Grado another shot, it has very few hours on it. That’s why I tried the Grado before the Grace, I thought it was the better choice. It did get some very good reviews. It was an expensive cartridge for me back in 1989. It listed for $750. |
I completely overhauled 3 systems beginning in 2019, and have been building a cartridge collection for my total of 5 tonearms, 3 with removable headshells. Main: I've been happily listening to a couple of LOMC for the past 4 years, AT33PTG/II ML on boron; Sumiko Talisman S Shibata on Sapphire Tube. Also got a new Jico Stylus SAS on Boron for my vintage Shure MM V15Vxmr and have been using my NOS MM AT440ml X microlinear on aluminum in my office. Also had Steve Leung at VAS re-build me two unique specialty combos with his 'p' advanced stylus on boron, 1 mono and 1 with Shure's OEM damped brush. The ATML170 and ATML180 mentioned are Microline on Boron, but they do not have exceptional channel separation, I've never heard one, but they don't tempt me due to their limited imaging potential and high price. I recently re-acquired MM Beryllium Cantilevers with Microline Stylus, they track in a range of 1.0g to 1.5g, I use 1.25g, have excellent stereo separation and tight center balance.I took a chance on: used AT160ml body with used AT160ml stylus (my current favorite) used at150ml body with AT160ml stylus (spare, share the wear) NOS V15V-P p mount, HE hyper-elliptical on beryllium, to use with 1/2" adapter (sadly just broke the stylus after playing it only once) this AM bought NOS AT160ML Body with NOS microline on beryllium cantilever found in Australia at a good price, I'll try to be especially careful with it. done for a while now |
AT-ML180 spec:
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- 35 posts total