What should I upgrade first?

[dupree]

You plugged in the wrong number though. You want the 16.5 grams of the whole arm.

Actually, scrap that. Yours is further down and the effective mass is 7.5. This one, yes?
“Den TP 11 Mk. II (mit Armrohr TP 62) bzw”

This is the exact one I have.

http://www.thorens-info.de/td145mkii_tp16mkii_detail1.jpg

 

[nopiano]

This is the exact one I have.

http://www.thorens-info.de/td145mkii_tp16mkii_detail1.jpg

Ok, so that apparently has the same 7.5 g effective mass, as listed here..

“Der TP 16 Isotrack, mit wechselbaren Armrohren TP 62 (dann heißt der Arm genau TP 16 Mk. II)”

 

[dupree]

Yes, you should aim for a higher compliance cartridge that fall into the green zone.

So these are a few examples I think would work according to this chart:

GRADO PRESTIGE 3 SERIES GOLD

Both the Silver3 and Gold3 use a four piece OTL cantilever with a Grado specific elliptical diamond stylus mounted on a brass bushing. With the Silver3 and Gold3, a machined turned generator is used to achieve a lower distortion and greater transparency. The Gold3 are hand selected from Silver3...

vinylsound.ca

GOLDRING GL2400 CARTRIDGES

All Goldring 2000 series cartridges feature Moving Iron technology. This lends them the high levels of detail associated with more expensive moving coil designs whilst retaining the convenience of a replaceable stylus and high output associated with moving magnet types. The cartridge employs a...

vinylsound.ca

CLEARAUDIO CONCEPT V2 CARTRIDGE

Clearaudio’s V2 MM technology uses ebony as a resonanceresistant body. Other ingredients of the recipe for success are the most effective reduction of moving mass, an optimised polishing technique for the stylus and highly effective cartridge damping. This is precision engineering in the pursuit...

vinylsound.ca

These are the only 3 that seem to fit. I need a MM that can be mounted from the bottom.

 

[Deleted member 108165]

I've never been anal or exact when selecting cartridges, seldom have I considered compliance in any of my purchases. I see compliance as a dark art which I have no interest in, I just want a nice cartridge that plays records and sounds good to my ears.

If I use the vinylengine resonance calculator table against what I currently have fitted, (MP500 on Marantz TT with ClearAudio Satisfy tonearm), it really isn't the best match and in theory shouldn't work well, but it does to my ears. Maybe compliance is something I should look into in the future but for now I'm more than happy with what I hear.

Of the three cartridges you have found the Grado appears to be a Marmite cart with lovers and haters in equal measures. The Goldring I believe is based on Nagaoka, (I could be mistaken here, I'm sure others will put me right if I am), the ClearAudio is based on Audio Technica. If you wish to get it exact then either the ClearAudio or Goldring would be a sound purchase.

I don't have the intention of trying to steer you away from this forum whatsoever it is only that on here you have a very small nucleus of members who can actually assist you or point you in the right direction. On the vinylengine forum there are hundreds of members all passionate about vinyl reproduction, I even go on there rather than here if I'm searching for answers to a particular problem related to turntables or cartridges. Give vinylengine a try, they are good helpful guys on there.

If you do jump to vinylengine for assistance please do come back and let us know how you you're getting on and what you eventually choose to do.

 

[dupree]

I've never been anal or exact when selecting cartridges, seldom have I considered compliance in any of my purchases. I see compliance as a dark art which I have no interest in, I just want a nice cartridge that plays records and sounds good to my ears.

If I use the vinylengine resonance calculator table against what I currently have fitted, (MP500 on Marantz TT with ClearAudio Satisfy tonearm), it really isn't the best match and in theory shouldn't work well, but it does to my ears. Maybe compliance is something I should look into in the future but for now I'm more than happy with what I hear.

Of the three cartridges you have found the Grado appears to be a Marmite cart with lovers and haters in equal measures. The Goldring I believe is based on Nagaoka, (I could be mistaken here, I'm sure others will put me right if I am), the ClearAudio is based on Audio Technica. If you wish to get it exact then either the ClearAudio or Goldring would be a sound purchase.

I don't have the intention of trying to steer you away from this forum whatsoever it is only that on here you have a very small nucleus of members who can actually assist you or point you in the right direction. On the vinylengine forum there are hundreds of members all passionate about vinyl reproduction, I even go on there rather than here if I'm searching for answers to a particular problem related to turntables or cartridges. Give vinylengine a try, they are good helpful guys on there.

If you do jump to vinylengine for assistance please do come back and let us know how you you're getting on and what you eventually choose to do.

So in your opinion would the golding mount in my headshell? I'm not sure if it's threaded or not

 

[Deleted member 108165]

So in your opinion would the golding mount in my headshell? I'm not sure if it's threaded or not

I have absolutely no idea if it is threaded or not, as I've never owned one or seen one. My best guess would be that it is not threaded and is held in place with the supplied fasteners.

 

[Gray]

I've never been anal or exact when selecting cartridges, seldom have I considered compliance in any of my purchases.

Neither have I.
And that must surely apply to the majority of people.
Whether or not your arm/cart is an ideal match on paper Doug, no way did it sound compromised.

My lesson in compliance was when I fitted a couple of high compliance carts on my old mobile disco (they were cheap).....what a disaster

Message to OP Dupree would be just to avoid a gross mismatch.

 

[dupree]

So I've finally decided to go with the Grado as it seems to be the most compatible with my tonearm. At around $340 it isn't too bad of a price either. There's a hifi store here that carries them and they are going to take care of everything. Fingers crossed this makes a big difference!

 

[Deleted member 108165]

So I've finally decided to go with the Grado as it seems to be the most compatible with my tonearm. At around $340 it isn't too bad of a price either. There's a hifi store here that carries them and they are going to take care of everything. Fingers crossed this makes a big difference!

Check here just to make sure: Grado hum database

 

[Gray]

...At around $340 it isn't too bad of a price either.

I think I paid around £15 for my Grado 🤑
Didn't hum either. Still got it somewhere.

 

[nopiano]

So I've finally decided to go with the Grado as it seems to be the most compatible with my tonearm. At around $340 it isn't too bad of a price either. There's a hifi store here that carries them and they are going to take care of everything. Fingers crossed this makes a big difference!

I hope you enjoy it as much as the Prestige Black I had. It was on my Michell as the dealer had used it as a demo model. My plan was to swap it soon after purchase but I liked it so much I kept it for several years. Lovely sound, especially on vocals where it was very natural to my ears.

 

[dupree]

Check here just to make sure: Grado hum database

Yeah I've read about this hum issue. According to this list my turntable shouldn't be an issue though!

 

[dupree]

I think I paid around £15 for my Grado 🤑
Didn't hum either. Still got it somewhere.

Haha yeah I think the days of cheap anything related to vinyl are over. I have records I paid $0.50 for years ago that are now worth $50. Solid investment lol.

 

[dupree]

I hope you enjoy it as much as the Prestige Black I had. It was on my Michell as the dealer had used it as a demo model. My plan was to swap it soon after purchase but I liked it so much I kept it for several years. Lovely sound, especially on vocals where it was very natural to my ears.

That's great to hear! I get it put on tomorrow. Can't wait to hear how it sounds.

 

[Gray]

I get it put on tomorrow. Can't wait to hear how it sounds.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

 

[dupree]

So I got my cartridge installed on the weekend, and at first I wasn't sure if it was an upgrade. It seemed quieter than the cartridge that was on there previously. Maybe it was just my ears adjusting or something. As I listened to it more though, it definitely grew on me. The music definitely seemed more alive. It can be noisy at the beginning of some records, but that could be possibly my amplifier as well. I have a Cambridge amp coming so that might make it sound even better. Anyways, going to give it more of a listen and see what happens. I've read that cartridges need breaking in as well. There is one issue however, now the record doesn't stop automatically at the end of a record, and the tonearm doesn't lift. The record keeps spinning now until I lift the needle. Is this because of the cartridge?
Thanks to everyone who chimed in on this thread and gave me advice! Much appreciated!

 

[nopiano]

There is one issue however, now the record doesn't stop automatically at the end of a record, and the tonearm doesn't lift. The record keeps spinning now until I lift the needle. Is this because of the cartridge?

If it has auto lift and has now stopped then there are two possibilities :-
1. It’s got upset during transporting and needs looking at.
2. There’s a mechanism to disable it, and you need to switch it back.

I suggest a call to your dealer. The cartridge should make no difference.

 

[Al ears]

Just read the last few posts regarding compliance and, although it certainly matters, I feel it matters less with moving magnet cartridges but becomes quite important if you ever move on to low output moving coil cartridges.

 

[Al ears]

If it has auto lift and has now stopped then there are two possibilities :-
1. It’s got upset during transporting and needs looking at.
2. There’s a mechanism to disable it, and you need to switch it back.

I suggest a call to your dealer. The cartridge should make no difference.

you are correct the cartridge should make no difference.
The Grado possibly sounds slightly quieter because it has a lower output voltage than the ADC (5.0mv as opposed to 6.05mv)

 

[Gray]

.....It can be noisy at the beginning of some records, but that could be possibly my amplifier as well.

Maybe your Sanyo is noisy? but that would apply to all records.
What Cambridge amp are you getting?

 

[dupree]

If it has auto lift and has now stopped then there are two possibilities :-
1. It’s got upset during transporting and needs looking at.
2. There’s a mechanism to disable it, and you need to switch it back.

I suggest a call to your dealer. The cartridge should make no difference.

Ok thanks for letting me know. I plan on calling the dealer who installed the cartridge today to ask about it.

 

[dupree]

Just read the last few posts regarding compliance and, although it certainly matters, I feel it matters less with moving magnet cartridges but becomes quite important if you ever move on to low output moving coil cartridges.

The dealer who installed it said he completed a compliancy test on it and it measured at 12 htz, which he said was on the border of where it needs to be (or in that green zone).

 

[dupree]

you are correct the cartridge should make no difference.
The Grado possibly sounds slightly quieter because it has a lower output voltage than the ADC (5.0mv as opposed to 6.05mv)

Ah ok that makes sense. It does sound great though. Hopefully the new amp will make it sound even better.

 

[dupree]

Maybe your Sanyo is noisy? but that would apply to all records.
What Cambridge amp are you getting?

This one with the phono preamp. It seems to get great reviews!

CAMBRIDGE CXA61 INTEGRATED STEREO AMPLIFIER

Half a decade after the CX range redefined performance at its price point, it’s time to reimagine, reengineer and reinvigorate. The all-new CXA61 and CXA81 integrated amplifiers build on the foundations laid (and the Awards won) by CXA60 and CXA80, but with a fresh and progressive...

vinylsound.ca

CAMBRIDGE DUO MOVING COIL & MOVING MAGNET PHONO PREAMP

Squeeze every inch of detail from your record collection with our highest quality moving magnet and moving coil phono stage, with integrated headphone amp; the Duo Phono Preamplifier. SPECIFICATIONS: MAX POWER CONSUMPTION: 10WCARTRIDGE SUPPORT: Moving Magnet | Moving CoilGAIN @ 1KHZ: MM...

vinylsound.ca

 

[nopiano]

PS. I found an instrc

Ok thanks for letting me know. I plan on calling the dealer who installed the cartridge today to ask about it.

I found a manual on vinyl engine, and can’t see any option to disable auto lift. Sometimes, transporting a turntable upsets this mechanism. You may need to move the arm carefully towards the end, obviously with stylus raised, and hope the mechanism catches, then operates normally.