The enemy of skepticism is ability.
Recommended a highly resolving cartridge
Hi all, all tube system that is warm with a good midrange presence inherently. I’m looking for a cartridge that offers high detail / resolution and wide / deep soundstage. This is on a stock SL-1200G TT. On a side note, if anyone has experience “upgrading” the stock tonearm on a G please chime in. I’ve read conflicting reports of the merits of such a move, and while I’m very happy with the tone of my TT and am not looking to move off of it, I am curious about a tonearm swap (must allow for headshell swapping).
- ...
- 163 posts total
I am researching the ART 20, as I can't but help think the Cart's structural design does separate it from more traditional designs. Working back from the stylus to the coils reveals that methods used are not usual. A forked cantilever to assist with mounting the stylus, a Boron Stepped Taper Cantilever, and what appears to be no Damper in use with a Tensioning Wire. Somewhere within this design is a design intent to decrease resonance generation and decrease transfer of resonance. The Body of the Cart' being two material types and using an elastomer is also a not too common seen structure. Whatever is read so far, when it comes to reading a user review, there is yet one to be seen that has a negative comment reported. |
OP here again, I’m well past the 40hr mark on time logged with the ART20 so thought it was a good time to switch carts and install my beloved Grado Aeon3. Made the changes including swapping tubes to compliment the warmer tone of the Grado (with the ART20 I use primarily NOS Mullards, with the Grado Mazdas and Telefunkens). And the headline: You don’t know what you don’t know. What does that mean? Well, as mentioned I used to LOVE the Grado. But something nagged at me that maybe there was more to audio life than such a lush presentation, and thanks to the help via this thread I arrived at the ART20. I had just today received a pristine 1st UK pressing of Led Zep Physical Graffiti and played side one with the AT, then switched to the Grado and replayed side one. In short, I immediately missed the AT. The Grado suddenly felt slow, bloated in the mids, the punch was gone, no where as airy, no where as exciting to listen to, On the plus side it offers perhaps better dimension but only slightly. I couldn’t wait to go back to the AT! Once the side was over I immediately made the switch back and was happy again. Naturally I could have sat longer with the Grado and let it’s charms win me over but I’m SO enjoying the ART20 I figure why interrupt that enjoyment. I’m astonished at how my perception has changed and what fulfills me now. I will say the Mullards plus keeping the loading at 100 (I tried 200 and things got too sharp/bright for me) are key to making this cart sing in my system. Now I’m thinking of selling the Grado and finding another cart to compliment the AT! I might start a thread on that soon. |
"I had just today received a pristine 1st UK pressing of Led Zep Physical Graffiti" Great choice. A pedigree UK version isn't crazy priced like a UK Zep debut I'm sure Bonzo's drum thwacks on "Custard Pie" and "The Rover" were proper. "thinking of selling the Grado and finding another cart to compliment the AT! " Your ears like the AT presentation, so it makes sense to go up the food chain to ART1000X. Direct Power Stereo MC Cartridge | AT-ART1000x | Audio-Technica | Audio-Technica Lyra would be on my list as well.
|
Lyra Delos on a Technics 'GR. It is a cartridge legend for a reason and I am 100% enthralled with the sound of this cartridge- detail, refinement, dynamics and bandwidth are all exceptional. Had an Ortofon Cadenza Blue which was very good but not as refined as the Lyra and had a smaller projected sound stage. Also had two AR ART9- the original and an ART9XA. While they sounded really nice, colorful and clean they could not match the performance of the Ortofon Cadenza Blue much less the Delos. I will never take a chance on another cartridge, the Lyra does it all. |
- 163 posts total

