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Grado Sonata1 Ref Vs. Audio Technica AT33EV

I've been using a Grado Sonata1 Reference cart for the past 1.5 years, and recently upgraded my speakers from monitors to floor standers. Now with the more pronounced bass, I'm noticing the Grado is a bit washy in the bass. The quantity if there, and it goes deep, but it's a bit soft. This is with a PS Audio GCPH and a Clearaudio Emotion TT. I'm considering making the switch to a more budget-friendly MC cart, particularly the AT33EV. Has anyone heard both the AT33EV and the Grado Sonata1 and can make a fair comparison?

Things I love about the Grado are: absolutely beautiful midrange, delicate treble, great harmonic detail, timbre, and lushness, soundstage. Really the only things I can think of that would need improving might be the bass "cleanliness", and perhaps a tad more extension in the treble. Maybe the AT33EV can't live up to all that?
jwglista
jwglista OP
206 posts
 
Speakers are Golden Ear Triton 3. I don't notice the flabbiness when using my DAC, which is why it seems specific to the analog front end.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,368 posts
 
When I was using my Sonata, I thought it was very musical (joe Grado sang at the Met...knew the sound of music). When I upgraded, I realized that the Sonata was grainy, kind of "brown" in character and not very delicate.
jwglista OP
206 posts
 
Stringreen: Can I ask what you upgraded to? Also, I have the Sonata1, which is the improved version of the original Sonata. I don't notice much grain at all, and that's coming from what I used to have, a Clearaudio Virtuoso.
davide256's avatar
davide256
395 posts
 
the Grado does fine in the bass... look elsewhere. It's deficits are lack of the high frequency "air" of moving coils and more emphasis of surface noise. Assuming you don't have the same lack of bass definition with digital sources, you could be describing a possible symptom of bass feedback interference with a TT. So try some distance between your TT and the speakers.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,368 posts
 
Jwglista....I upgraded to a Benz LP...now I'm using an LPS.
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