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Notice That There Are Not Many Survivors of the MC from the early 19080's or so?

Every once in awhile I will see an odd Audioquest 404 for sale. But otherwise not too many cartridges from this generation. I have always wondered about whatever happened to the Sumiko SHO cartridges. Were they the predecessor to the Blue Point or the Blackbird? Always wondered how they sounded, never got to hear one. 

I wonder if it is the use of the hollow rod cantilevers that caused them to become lost cartridges. I don't think you could retip them, but the best you could do is trade them in for a discount. 

The other cartridge I see from time to time are the Shinon, and every once in a great while I will see one come up for sale. Oh an odd Ortofon or two, and that is about all I remember for this era of moving coils ever coming available. 

neonknight
rauliruegas
13,358 posts
 

Audiogon Discussion Forum

 

Amazing performer.

R.

neonknight OP
519 posts
 

@bgross 

 

I had a Sumiko Alchemist IIIS that I bought as a demo from Audio Connection in Seattle when I was a young man. I had it on a Systemdeck IIXE turntable, with the Profile II arm. I have fond memories of that cartridge, and I saw one for sale awhile back that I thought long and hard about buying. 

elliottbnewcombjr
7,731 posts
 

@neonknight 

Now you KNOW you should have bought it!!!! See another one, beat some of us to it.

What's this?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/206214229085?mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=f9311364-3a67-11f1-87f6-316639643965

 

rauliruegas
13,358 posts
 

That's is the worst of the LOMC Talisman cartridges due to its saphire/ruby cantilever. Not worth to buy.

If neonnigth send it to a change of cantilever then it is worth with very good rewards.

 

R.

billpete
396 posts
 

@rauliruegas Just wondering why the sapphire or ruby cantilevers are bad. The Grace F9e ruby is a pretty highly regarded cartridge in most circles and is one of the better MM cartridges that I have heard. A buddy of mine had a couple of them and I was impressed by it at least in his system. So, you say the Talisman S is one of the worst? I have one and my son also has one, he likes it very much, I'm not so impressed by it and think of it as just OK. 

My favorite MC has been the FR1MKIII F, at least in my system. There can be many variables with components, set up, tubes and so on but it is still probably my favorite. Mine I think is due for a rebuild and I've talked with Steve Leung about it. He will have it one of these days. 

Raul, I always read your posts with interest due to your experience with so many cartridges and your detailed explanations.............and I don't have to be an electrical engineer to understand. Much appreciated. 

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