Cartridge for Xpression III

[bigred7078]

Hey guys im looking into getting a new cartridge for the Pro-ject Xpression III that I picked up.

I'm currently looking into some Grado's and Denon's as i get pretty good prices on them.

Grado Gold
Denon DL-103
Denon DL-160

I'm leaning towards the Grado, but i've been reading a lot about hum issues with them and several TT's due to their unshielded design. But yeah any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by bigred7078

Hey guys im looking into getting a new cartridge for the Pro-ject Xpression III that I picked up.

I'm currently looking into some Grado's and Denon's as i get pretty good prices on them.

Grado Gold
Denon DL-103
Denon DL-160

I'm leaning towards the Grado, but i've been reading a lot about hum issues with them and several TT's due to their unshielded design. But yeah any suggestions would be appreciated.

Hi bigred,

I have a Grado Reference Platinum cartridge (actually 2), and although there are reports of hum with them on certain tables, I have yet to personally experience this. I have not heard the Denon cartridges, but I am a big fan of the Grado sound.

John

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by bigred7078

Hey guys im looking into getting a new cartridge for the Pro-ject Xpression III that I picked up.

I'm currently looking into some Grado's and Denon's as i get pretty good prices on them.

Grado Gold
Denon DL-103
Denon DL-160

I'm leaning towards the Grado, but i've been reading a lot about hum issues with them and several TT's due to their unshielded design. But yeah any suggestions would be appreciated.

The DL-103 is reported to have a very neutral sound and is a good bargain for a moving coil cartridge. Does you phono stage support coils?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Hey Fred,

Did you get the VTI rack from RacksandStands?

John

[bigred7078]

Originally Posted by John72953

Hi bigred,

I have a Grado Reference Platinum cartridge (actually 2), and although there are reports of hum with them on certain tables, I have yet to personally experience this. I have not heard the Denon cartridges, but I am a big fan of the Grado sound.

John

Yeah, Grado seems to be loved by a lot of people. I talked to some guy at "needledoctor" and asked him about the matchup with the xpression III and Grado and he basically said that its a HORRIBLE matchup and i should get a ortofon...

lol so many opinion.

[bigred7078]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

The DL-103 is reported to have a very neutral sound and is a good bargain for a moving coil cartridge. Does you phono stage support coils?

yup my pre-amp supports MC. Thanks for the feedback.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by bigred7078

Yeah, Grado seems to be loved by a lot of people. I talked to some guy at "needledoctor" and asked him about the matchup with the xpression III and Grado and he basically said that its a HORRIBLE matchup and i should get a ortofon...

lol so many opinion.

If that's what he said, then I would take his advice. I've heard an Expression/Ortofon combo at my dealer and it is very nice.

Another cartridge to consider, if not now, is the Sumiko Blue Point No. 2 @ about $299 MSRP.

Here's some of what TAS said about it:

"The No. 2 offers improved resolution, superior three-dimensionality, richer and more potent bass, and smoother, less aggressive highs.".

John

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by John72953

Hey Fred,

Did you get the VTI rack from RacksandStands?

John

I got it from StandsandMounts.com. But I think that racks and stands actually had the same item for less money. I didn't find that out until after my order had shipped.

No concerns though really I'm just out of a couple bucks, but I like the stand immensely. Looking are ya?

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by bigred7078

yup my pre-amp supports MC. Thanks for the feedback.

BTW, I left some feedback for you in your gallery.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

I got it from StandsandMounts.com. But I think that racks and stands actually had the same item for less money. I didn't find that out until after my order had shipped.

No concerns though really I'm just out of a couple bucks, but I like the stand immensely. Looking are ya?

I am indeed.....looking at a 4-shelf unit. I need room for my TT....present stand is not cutting it.

John

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by John72953

I am indeed.....looking at a 4-shelf unit. I need room for my TT....present stand is not cutting it.

John

Good deal! I'll be ordering a couple of matching amp stands soon. So what if I don't have the amps yet! I need to get them in the room just to keep focused on what is yet to be accomplished.

Also, I will be ordering the Adona stand the Rich suggested in the next few days. I figure a bit more isolation will benefit the sound nicely. And did I mention the Tecnodec sounds awesome!

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by John72953

If that's what he said, then I would take his advice. I've heard an Expression/Ortofon combo at my dealer and it is very nice.

Another cartridge to consider, if not now, is the Sumiko Blue Point No. 2 @ about $299 MSRP.

Here's some of what TAS said about it:

"The No. 2 offers improved resolution, superior three-dimensionality, richer and more potent bass, and smoother, less aggressive highs.".

John

Hi John,

I seem to remember that Roy Hall (MusicHall) absolutely trashed that Sumiko. I think he referred to it as a total POS. He also specifically castigated the reviewers for all the great things they had been saying about that cartridge. Now, Roy Hall's not God, but I find it curious that he would rail on that particular cartridge so harshly. BTW, he went on to compliment Sumiko for some of their other carts.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

Hi John,

I seem to remember that Roy Hall (MusicHall) absolutely trashed that Sumiko. I think he referred to it as a total POS. He also specifically castigated the reviewers for all the great things they had been saying about that cartridge. Now, Roy Hall's not God, but I find it curious that he would rail on that particular cartridge so harshly. BTW, he went on to compliment Sumiko for some of their other carts.

Yes, I remember that article, and as I mentioned to Richteer last year in a conversation we were having, I am personally not a fan of the Blue Points myself. I always thought they sounded rather harsh in the upper frequencies, which is why I was so attracted to the Grado sound at the time.

Can you audition any of the ones you mentioned on an Expression? That would be ideal!

John

PS ~ I love that TechnoDec Cover....wondering if I could make it work on my Nottingham.

[CasualKiller]

With the table you're looking at it's a weight issue, not so much a hum issue. With Grado designed the way they are they are a very light cartridge and work best with the flimsy type tonearms like the below.



Ortofon, Goldring and the other competition in that range are specifically made to be more "mass market friendly" with the wide assortment of tonearms available. This is the reason why you see these cartridges bundled with the tables fully setup and ready to go, they are a good match.

The Denon DL-103 mentioned above would also be a good match for your TT, but if you go looking at the cheaper carts in the line, the DL-160 would not be.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by CasualKiller

With the table you're looking at it's a weight issue, not so much a hum issue. With Grado designed the way they are they are a very light cartridge and work best with the flimsy type tonearms like the below.



Ortofon, Goldring and the other competition in that range are specifically made to be more "mass market friendly" with the wide assortment of tonearms available. This is the reason why you see these cartridges bundled with the tables fully setup and ready to go, they are a good match.

Are you saying my Grado Reference Platinum on a Rega RB250 is the WRONG match or the right one? Is the Rega arm "flimsy' in your opinion? Your post, with all due respect, sounds convoluted at best.

John

[CasualKiller]

Just going by the advice given to me on cartridge selection by the guys at Audio Karma. Light cartridges are not a good match for Medium and High mass tonearms. This is why you see so many threads on people asking why they get sibilance and distortion the closer to the spindle they get when using Grados.

Light cartridges are best suited for low mass tonearms.

This is based off of the observation that lighter cartridges are usually of a lower compliance. Improper matching can result in unwanted resonances, high freq damping, mistracking and distortion.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by CasualKiller

Just going by the advice given to me on cartridge selection by the guys at Audio Karma. Light cartridges are not a good match for Medium and High mass tonearms. This is why you see so many threads on people asking why they get sibilance and distortion the closer to the spindle they get when using Grados.

Light cartridges are best suited for low mass tonearms.

This is based off of the observation that lighter cartridges are usually of a lower compliance. Improper matching can result in unwanted resonances, high freq damping, mistracking and distortion.

Ah yes...Audio Kharma....

John

[CasualKiller]

If I'm seeing something the wrong way by all means correct me. This is information that I not only use for advice but in my own personal setup as well.

Edit> And from a quick glance the cartridge you are using is a full 2 grams heavier than the Grado Gold we are discussing above.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by CasualKiller

If I'm seeing something the wrong way by all means correct me. This is information that I not only use for advice but in my own personal setup as well.

I don't think you're seeing anything wrong, but I wouldn't take all of their advice as gospel either. From my time over there I have gathered they dislike Grado as much as others do Bose and Monster.

John

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by John72953

...PS ~ I love that TechnoDec Cover....wondering if I could make it work on my Nottingham.

John,
Check your PM's.