Cartridge for Quad 44
Tue, Jun 15 2010, 3:42PM
Hello!
I am happy to join this forum.
Actually, I need a piece of advice as to choosing a suitable cartridge for my newly restored Quad 44 Mk I used in conjuction with a newly restored Quad 405 Mk I. The gramophone is a Thorens TD 126 Mk III with SME 3009-R tonearm. Loudspeakers are Sonab OA 116.
My Quad preamplifier is fitted with a gramophone circuit prepared for cartridges of the moving magnet type, however I am about to order a separate module for the use of cartridges of the moving coil type should this option come to mind.
I listen to analogue classical recordings with music ranging from gregorian chant to Schnittke, and my recordings are made approximately between 1949 and 1977, the majority of them between 1958 and 1973.
My main problem would be to choose between a moving magnet type and a moving coil type. Thereafter, I find it difficult to point out alternatives as there are currently so many current brands and models to choose among.
I would be very glad for a piece of advice.
Sincerely,
axtl1010
Tue, Jun 15 2010, 9:43PM
#2
RE: Cartridge for Quad 44
I have to start by saying I have never used a moving coil cartridge but they are more expensive than moving magnets with prices going astronomically high! Also bear in mind that with most mms it is easy to replace the stylus assembly if it is worn or damaged whereas with a mc it will probably have to be sent back to the manufacturer. It also used to be said that mms tracked better than mcs and were kinder to your records but that may not be the case with modern designs.
I still use a nearly 40 year old Shure M75ED Type 2 in my old Goldring Lenco GL 75 turntable and I suppose I have got used to its sound. When I set up a new system 10 or so years ago I replaced the budget cartridge fitted to the new turntable with a Shure M97xE which I find sounds good. It is still available and I think costs around £100. I use it with the miniature brush retracted and a tracking weight of around 1.4 gram.
You may like to check out Hi Fi World Magazine which still treats playing vinyl LPs seriously. In the June issue a reader asked what type of cartridge they recommended for an SME 3009 series 2 arm and the answer was the Shure M97xE or Goldring 1022GX. I think that as the arm is an old design you would be better with an mm rather than an mc.
Whatever you choose make sure it's properly aligned and set up. Good luck & good listening!
Tue, Jun 15 2010, 9:50PM
#3
RE: Cartridge for Quad 44
PS Have just seen Tagalie and yes the Shure V15III was regarded as the best mm but sadly no longer available!
Wed, Jun 16 2010, 12:49PM
#4
RE: Cartridge for Quad 44
Hello!
Thank you very much for your answers which are very helpful to me. I have decided to purchase the Shure M 97xE, and I am looking forward to listen to my long playing records again.
Sincerely,
Awg
Thu, Jun 17 2010, 5:36PM
#5
RE: Cartridge for Quad 44
I know from another forum on kit that Dynavector makes great MC cartridges. I have a mid line for them but their less expensive ones have great sound. I think it's a 20X and then the step up is DV 17d3.
Glad you bought a Shure, they've been around for a long time, way back when I was in college. EEEEgads!
Fri, Jul 16 2010, 12:44PM
#6
RE: Cartridge for Quad 44 RE: Cartridge for Quad 44
I tend to find Shure Cartridges a little bright. Nevertheless, in the days of the digital download , it is good to see people still using vinyl.
Fri, Aug 27 2010, 6:56AM
#7
RE: Cartridge for Quad 44 RE: Cartridge for Quad 44
I tend to find Shure Cartridges a little bright. Nevertheless, in the days of the digital download , it is good to see people still using vinyl.
If I recollect; Sure V15
111 & IV liked about 220Pf input impedance and SME sold a cable that helped
match this with the amplifiers input correctly – this will help with an over
bright replay.
David.
Mon, Sep 27 2010, 5:35PM
#8
RE: Cartridge for Quad 44 RE: Cartridge for Quad 44
Thanks!
Recently I bought a Shure M 97xE and it was mounted and aligned as well as I can, but it was not possible to avoid tracking distortion on the inner half part of the records' surface.
Now I am about to purchase a Goldring G series. I will be happy to buy it on the Internet.
Best regards,
Awg
Sun, Dec 19 2010, 5:15PM
#9
RE: Cartridge for Quad 44
The SME arm was deemed more suitable for mm than for mc cartridges at the time. Mechanically it was a particularly happy combination with the Shure V15 series. Quad made a special board (nothing hard to make) for the V 15 with if I remember an extra capacitor to do away with the brightness, and a precisely tuned input sensitivity.
Willem
Mon, Dec 20 2010, 2:51PM
#10
RE: Cartridge for Quad 44
As to the use of Shure V 15, would it be possible to buy one used and put a new needle to it?
And I am happy to ask Quad to modify the gramophone circuit of Quad 44.
Regards, Awg
Mon, Dec 20 2010, 7:36PM
#11
RE: Cartridge for Quad 44
The problem is Shure no longer has a stylus for your V15. So you would need to get one from an independent supplier. Some of these styli seem decent, others apparently are awful.
Willem
Wed, Dec 22 2010, 5:57PM
#12
RE: Cartridge for Quad 44 RE: Cartridge for Quad 44
I am surprised you could not align the M97xE as I would have thought it was similar to the alignment of any other cartridge and I cannot see a V15 or Goldring being any different. There will always be some slight tracing distortion on the inner grooves but it should not really be audible on most records. Do you have a proper alignment protractor?
Sat, Dec 25 2010, 12:23AM
#13
RE: Cartridge for Quad 44 RE: Cartridge for Quad 44
Yes, I have an original protractor for SME 3009-R.
Now I recall I have used this protractor to align the M 97xE on another longer tonearm, and I see that I have made a mistake. I am happy to try a M 97 HE / Era IV on my SME 3009-R.
Sat, Jan 1 2011, 6:18PM
#14
RE: Cartridge for Quad 44 RE: Cartridge for Quad 44
Now the Shure M 97 HE is mounted on the SME 3009-R, and I think the cartridge is properly aligned; It tracks excellently, and to my ears, the sound reproduction is perfect.
Many thanks for valuable advice as to the choice of cartridge.
Best regards, Awg
Mon, Jan 3 2011, 1:37AM
#15
RE: Cartridge for Quad 44
Good listening to your records AWG! Just for my information do you know what is the difference between the M97xE & the M97HE? Is it a different stylus?
I use a Shure V15III, VN35MR stylus, on an SME 3009 II. Amplification through a Quad 34 into a Quad 405, driving Quad esl63s and a Velodyne 12" sub. In a 20'x30' room with a cathedral ceiling, the volume is generally set around 12 for classical cds, 8-9 for jazz/rock, 15-16 for lps. Musical tastes run from Monteverdi to Maxwell Davies, Mozart to Martinu, Brahms to John Surman to Bill Evans (sax or piano) toTamla Motown to Bax.
I've had this set-up, with minor variations, for the best part of 30 years and have yet to hear anything I like better. The 34 was recently in dock after I lost a channel and they did some kind of minor tweak to the cartridge board while it was in. I can't hear any difference unless I let my imagination run riot.
After speakers, cartridges seem to be the component most subject to personal taste so you might want to audition a few before you buy. I've been a Shure fan for eons.