Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    Do What? jrhymeammo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    3,276

    Off by a grid!!!!!!!!!!

    So, I whipped out GEO-DISC and checked my cart for first time in 3-4 months. It was off by over 2mm, and alignment was slightly off too. How often do you guys check your cart?

    My Tone-Loc 12"(45rpm) "Wild Thing" never sounded so good.

  2. #2
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Posts
    400

    I check..

    ...stylus condition a lot more than cartridge alignment. I have both an alignment gauge and a stylus microscope, and guess which one is easier to use?

    Laz

  3. #3
    Forum Regular nobody's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    1,964
    I check mine every time I switch cartridges, which is fairly often as I use a different cartridge to burn vinyl to CD as my regular listening. And, for listening in the car and such, I burn stuff fairly often, probably seldom go more than a week or two without burning something.

  4. #4
    Super Moderator Site Moderator JohnMichael's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Central Ohio
    Posts
    6,307
    I also use the MoFi GeoDisc to align my cartridges on my Rega. One of the toughest steps for me was sighting the pivot. Now that I know how to do that consisitenly every time I change cartridges I get the alignment correct. Once I have the cart. installed and the hardware tightened it will always stay in place.
    JohnMichael
    Vinyl Rega Planar 2, Incognito rewire, Deepgroove subplatter, ceramic bearing, Michell Technoweight, Rega 24V motor, TTPSU, FunkFirm Achroplat platter, Michael Lim top and bottom braces, 2 Rega feet and one RDC cones. Grado Sonata, Moon 110 LP phono.
    Digital
    Sony SCD-XA5400ES SACD/cd SID mat, Marantz SA 8001
    Int. Amp Krell S-300i
    Speaker
    Monitor Audio RS6
    Cables
    AQ SPKR and AQ XLR and IC

  5. #5
    Do What? jrhymeammo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    3,276
    Quote Originally Posted by JohnMichael
    I also use the MoFi GeoDisc to align my cartridges on my Rega. One of the toughest steps for me was sighting the pivot. Now that I know how to do that consisitenly every time I change cartridges I get the alignment correct. Once I have the cart. installed and the hardware tightened it will always stay in place.

    I like Geo-Disc alot, but it's really hard to tell if my cart is aligned correctly.
    This takes some guessing and patience. Almost like putting on well manicured green. I think it would help if I tape a piece of very light and straight wire on front of my cart. That way I can see if it is aligned correctly from the top in respect to grids. Unfortunately that is very hard to find

  6. #6
    Super Moderator Site Moderator JohnMichael's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Central Ohio
    Posts
    6,307
    Quote Originally Posted by jrhymeammo
    I like Geo-Disc alot, but it's really hard to tell if my cart is aligned correctly.
    This takes some guessing and patience. Almost like putting on well manicured green. I think it would help if I tape a piece of very light and straight wire on front of my cart. That way I can see if it is aligned correctly from the top in respect to grids. Unfortunately that is very hard to find

    If you ever buy an Ortofon OM20 then the fun really begins. The all black cartridge without parallel sides is tough for my 50 year old eyes to mount. Once you have it aligned properly though the magic begins and of course you never have to do it again.
    JohnMichael
    Vinyl Rega Planar 2, Incognito rewire, Deepgroove subplatter, ceramic bearing, Michell Technoweight, Rega 24V motor, TTPSU, FunkFirm Achroplat platter, Michael Lim top and bottom braces, 2 Rega feet and one RDC cones. Grado Sonata, Moon 110 LP phono.
    Digital
    Sony SCD-XA5400ES SACD/cd SID mat, Marantz SA 8001
    Int. Amp Krell S-300i
    Speaker
    Monitor Audio RS6
    Cables
    AQ SPKR and AQ XLR and IC

  7. #7
    Do What? jrhymeammo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    3,276
    Quote Originally Posted by JohnMichael
    If you ever buy an Ortofon OM20 then the fun really begins. The all black cartridge without parallel sides is tough for my 50 year old eyes to mount. Once you have it aligned properly though the magic begins and of course you never have to do it again.

    I forgot that you are the man who turned me on to Alpha Core IC. I love their Silver line for my analog setup. How do you stack Ortofon OM10, 20, 30, and 40 to other MM carts you have lived with? I'm starting to look at their MC series to get a taste of moving coil.

  8. #8
    Super Moderator Site Moderator JohnMichael's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Central Ohio
    Posts
    6,307
    Quote Originally Posted by jrhymeammo
    I forgot that you are the man who turned me on to Alpha Core IC. I love their Silver line for my analog setup. How do you stack Ortofon OM10, 20, 30, and 40 to other MM carts you have lived with? I'm starting to look at their MC series to get a taste of moving coil.

    My cartridge experience involves the following models.

    Grado cartridges which I have never felt sounded their best in my Rega tonearm. Good bass and warm sounding.

    Audio Technica AT440ML is the opposite of the Grado. Bright and fast but instruments never sounded natural. Great string tone but little sound of the body of the instrument is the best way I can think to put it. Very much two dimensional.

    Sumiko Blue Point is a high output mc cartridge that has wonderful sound staging but lacking in dynamics. I listen to a variety of rock, jazz and classical but found the cartridge to easy going for some rock and jazz.

    Ortofon OM 20 does not have the depth of the sound stage that the Blue Point has but better dynamics and a more neutral balance between the Grado and the AT. I find it as revealing as the BP with complex classical music. Good lateral sound staging with fair depth. I use the OM 20 exclusively now.

    Dyanavector 10X2 which is worn out was a great high output mc. When I get the urge to try another cartridge it will be the latest version the 10X5.

    There are certainly more expensive cartridges out there I would like to try after a change in fortunes. I am glad to read you like the AlphaCores.
    JohnMichael
    Vinyl Rega Planar 2, Incognito rewire, Deepgroove subplatter, ceramic bearing, Michell Technoweight, Rega 24V motor, TTPSU, FunkFirm Achroplat platter, Michael Lim top and bottom braces, 2 Rega feet and one RDC cones. Grado Sonata, Moon 110 LP phono.
    Digital
    Sony SCD-XA5400ES SACD/cd SID mat, Marantz SA 8001
    Int. Amp Krell S-300i
    Speaker
    Monitor Audio RS6
    Cables
    AQ SPKR and AQ XLR and IC

  9. #9
    Do What? jrhymeammo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    3,276
    Quote Originally Posted by JohnMichael
    My cartridge experience involves the following models.

    Grado cartridges which I have never felt sounded their best in my Rega tonearm. Good bass and warm sounding.

    Audio Technica AT440ML is the opposite of the Grado. Bright and fast but instruments never sounded natural. Great string tone but little sound of the body of the instrument is the best way I can think to put it. Very much two dimensional.

    Sumiko Blue Point is a high output mc cartridge that has wonderful sound staging but lacking in dynamics. I listen to a variety of rock, jazz and classical but found the cartridge to easy going for some rock and jazz.

    Ortofon OM 20 does not have the depth of the sound stage that the Blue Point has but better dynamics and a more neutral balance between the Grado and the AT. I find it as revealing as the BP with complex classical music. Good lateral sound staging with fair depth. I use the OM 20 exclusively now.

    Dyanavector 10X2 which is worn out was a great high output mc. When I get the urge to try another cartridge it will be the latest version the 10X5.

    There are certainly more expensive cartridges out there I would like to try after a change in fortunes. I am glad to read you like the AlphaCores.
    Thanks for your detailed reply.

    I'm now very interested in Goldring Eroica LX, Garrot P77, K series, and Audio Technica OC9.

    -JRA

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •