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Post by drtrey3 on May 1, 2021 19:14:23 GMT -5
My wonderful Grado Platinum gave up the ghost recently, a new stylus would probably suffice, but I have more vinyl to rip and crave an upgrade. Initial considerations include one of the Denon D103 variants. I have a Vincent PHO 701, so I think I can use that cartridge. Or, I could stick with Rega and get a Rega Exact II which will mount securely and accurately like a dream.
What say you? Suggestions please.
Trey
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Post by audiobill on May 1, 2021 19:16:01 GMT -5
Look very hard at the Dynavector moving coils 20x2l. Magical.
Much nicer than the Ortofon 2m black,
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Post by drtrey3 on May 3, 2021 8:27:11 GMT -5
That looks awesome. I am hoping to stay around $600 or so. The black DOES have a Shibata stylus, but I hear set up is key with that stylus.
Trey
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Post by 405x5 on May 3, 2021 9:40:49 GMT -5
That looks awesome. I am hoping to stay around $600 or so. The black DOES have a Shibata stylus, but I hear set up is key with that stylus. Trey Before I ran away from record playing, I had a Shibata stylus. When I bought it, There was no such thing yet as a COMPACT DISC đż PLAYER (LOL)! At that time, our delving into âtechnologyâ was simply doing the same thing you guys are doing now, 45 years later. I was taken by the Shibata concept, in that (save the dirt) you had a shot at scratching a lower section of the groove that gets missed by the elliptical, therefore potentially hearing the same record a bit more so to speak. But thatâs it. the rest of my listening time goes into my âShibata Bluray Playerâ. (No contest) Bill  |
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Post by audiobill on May 3, 2021 10:18:37 GMT -5
That looks awesome. I am hoping to stay around $600 or so. The black DOES have a Shibata stylus, but I hear set up is key with that stylus. Trey I tried the Ortofon black, but after endless tinkering couldnât get happy with its rather shrill sonics. If the Dynavector is too pricey, Iâf next go to a good Grado. |
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Post by 26gary26 on May 3, 2021 10:34:11 GMT -5
That looks awesome. I am hoping to stay around $600 or so. The black DOES have a Shibata stylus, but I hear set up is key with that stylus. Trey Before I ran away from record playing, I had a Shibata stylus. When I bought it, There was no such thing yet as a COMPACT DISC đż PLAYER (LOL)! At that time, our delving into âtechnologyâ was simply doing the same thing you guys are doing now, 45 years later. I was taken by the Shibata concept, in that (save the dirt) you had a shot at scratching a lower section of the groove that gets missed by the elliptical, therefore potentially hearing the same record a bit more so to speak. But thatâs it. the rest of my listening time goes into my âShibata Bluray Playerâ. (No contest) Bill I have had my Stanton cartridge for years and I like they way it makes my records sing. I always like the way it allows me to copy my records to my hard drive. |
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Post by audiobill on May 3, 2021 12:21:46 GMT -5
Also, the D103 needs to be carefully matched for mass with its tonearm.
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Post by 405x5 on May 3, 2021 14:18:36 GMT -5
 I have had my Stanton cartridge for years and I like they way it makes my records sing. I always like the way it allows me to copy my records to my hard drive. Even today, that cartridge is held in high regard as evidenced by Ebay for example. That picture I posted is a friend of mineâs turntable. Before I dumped MY turntable into the garage, I pulled out the cartridge and gave it to him. BEFORE THATâŚ.it spent 50 (yes 50) years shelled in my AR XA. It did originally come with an elliptical. Bill |
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Post by drtrey3 on May 5, 2021 10:38:42 GMT -5
Audiobill, I did not know that. Thanks for the info. Just in case you know, would it be an appropriate cartridge to use with a Rega arm? I have an older (straight armed) RP3.
Thank you so much for the education!
Trey
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Post by audiobill on May 5, 2021 13:46:53 GMT -5
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Post by drtrey3 on Jun 29, 2021 11:43:05 GMT -5
So I decided to go with a Rega Exact 2. It is so easy to get the right installation with a Rega arm/cartridge combo that I could not justify leaving the family and risking a bad install (by me lol.) The Rega is a high output cartridge, so my only question is will hit top out the Vincent. Time will tell as I should get it is a couple. I will type my thoughts. Thanks for doing the same!
Trey
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,222 
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Post by novisnick on Jun 29, 2021 12:38:41 GMT -5
Congratulations on the yellow! Iâve been enjoying my Exact II for a few years now and really have enjoyed it. Canât complain one bit and setup is a snap.
Enjoy! We all look forward to your thoughts about
A) Setup
B) initial thoughts about sound
C) thoughts after a month or so depending on amount of play
đ
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Post by drtrey3 on Aug 31, 2021 21:27:15 GMT -5
Well, time for an update and report. True enough, the Exact II was easy to install correctly. I did have to remove the Rega shim that was installed for my taller Grado cartridge. Easily done, and now to plug it in to my Vincent PHO 701 and let the analogue goodness begin. Except, something was, well wrong. Um, no bass, and the mixes of records I knew well were not right. I visually checked the leads and they looked fine. I mucked about with the Vincent and found the problem. Somehow, the phono preamp was picking up one channel and broadcasting it to both channels to give the illusion of stereo. Huh, I wondered, was my problematic Grado really an impaired Vincent? That way lies madness. Where is my backup?
Ah, the Rolls Bellari VP129, with an extra tube no less! I preferred the Vincent, but I really needed to hear my Rega, so on with the show. Huh, I do not recall that hum that drowns out any signal even when no leads are plugged in. Hum, and there it is after changing the tube. Curses. Foiled again. But my PT100 in the family room has a phono input. I wonder if it is usable.
I plugged the Rega into the PT100 and rocked on and on until I felt guilty and moved the Rega and the PT-100 into the den so I can rip. And listen. ELO Discovery at present. Is the Emotiva built in phono amp on par with the Vincent. I think yes frankly. I have not tried tube rolling on the Vincent yet, though I have a couple to try, but I do like the easy 24 bit rips. My current system is not so nifty, though still sounds liquid and great.
The Rega seems to be a step up from the Grado, but it cost more and the stylus was new. I had read of people complaining of tubby bass and forward treble, not in my home. I am quite pleased and enjoying my vinyl and new rips. It feels like a step up from the Grado, but the scientist in me is not willing to state such a thing as fact, or do the comparisons necessary to be willing.
Happy Listening! Janet Jackson The Velvet Rope next.
Trey
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