11. Very hard to find a real one. I haven't hunted voraciously for one, but I do hunt other vintage cartridges in the usual places, and I cannot recall ever seeing one for sale.
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 AT-170ML specs chakster shows actually slightly better than the AT-ML180 shown above SPECIFICATIONS AT-ML170 / LC-OFC: used AT-ML170 from Samurai (whom I bought two used AT160ml’s from) ///////////////////////////////////////////// westcoast thanks for correcting my erroneous statement, those AT-ML180 specs are excellent, that makes more sense, I had found specs that showed channel sep 21 db, it must have been a typo or a bad source. ..................................... I just bought a NOS AT160ml MicroLine on Beryllium in Australia for $298 usd. delivered. AT160ML sept 1984 published specs Manufacturer’s Specifications: Type: Moving magnet. Stylus: MicroLine, nude-mounted, grain-oriented, square diamond. Frequency Response: 5 Hz to 35 kHz. Channel Balance: Within 0.5 dB. Separation: 31 dB at 1 kHz, 21 dB at 10 kHz. Recommended Vertical Tracking Force Range: 0.08 to 1.8 grams. Tracking Ability: 90 microns at center vertical tracking force (VTF), 100 microns at upper VTF. .......................................... I’m loving my used MM AT-160ml’s, soon will re-assemble/install my new to me Vintage JVC Victor Tonearm UA-7082 which will give me medium length, two removable headshells, and Sunday I will bid on the S arm version of the Jelco 250, if I get lucky that will give me 3 removable heasdshells. With the TT81, I can start all 3 tonearms in the groove, perfect speed as demonstrated by ’Halcro’, a member here with the TT801 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3WeNPtfLBc&t=32s I choose which one to hear via my SUT, so I can actively compare within seconds. (I make temp. pencil marks for volume as needed). I want to compare my two MC’s:AT-33PTG/II Microline on Boron; Sumiko Talisman S Shibata on Sapphire Tube to my two MM’s: Shure V15Vxmr with Jico SAS on Boron and AT-160ML MicroLine on Beryllium, I’ll schedule it with friends to help. |
OP here’s a discussion of the Grace F9 cartridge https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/grace-f-9e Note: you can put an advanced stylus in it, you might enjoy it more, excerpt, emphasis mine: "lewm FWIW, Soundsmith make a complete replacement stylus and cantilever assembly for the Grace Ruby cartridge, which was naught but an F9E with a sapphire or ruby cantilever. Best of all, the SS product comes with one of their line contact styli, which should (and does) surpass the performance of the OEM elliptical. This is my opinion, but I can back it up by the fact I own two Grace Ruby cartridges, one OEM and one with the SS replacement stylus. Both are superb but the SS version is best with better treble extension and a cleaner midrange. And yes, this cartridge will blow away many MC cartridges that are adored here. The F14 is good too, based on the testimony of the now absent Chakster. I have not heard an F14" |
@elliottbnewcombjr Thank you for the information. I will look into SS reworking the cartridge. I’m still looking in my toy boxes for the F9E-Ruby. I thought I purchased one? The sapphire cantilever rings a bell with me also. Joe |
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