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99.13.88.77
...has arrived, and for the mmf-2.1le.
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That's pretty cheap, by quality cartridge prices, at turntableneedles.com.
Is it any good? Anyone use it?
I have to say, every AT that I've ever tried [the AT95 most recently] has sounded very bright in my system [stock Technics into stock Adcom pre]. All other carts sound fine.
I noticed it before deciding on the AT95E. I drooled over it, but only slightly. In the end, I only wanted something better than Music Hall's "Tracker", and I found it, and at the right price. I couldn't justify paying the extra $71.96, including possible shipping charges.
My system is fairly simple; consisting of the mmf-2.1le, a Harman Kardon HK 3380, and a pair of KEF Coda III's tethered to said receiver via unterminated QED "Silver Anniversary" speaker wires.
Whilst a picture is worth a thousand words, music, intangible, is worth a thousand pictures, ad infinitum.
Mike,
The 120E has the same body/generator as the 440ML, but with a nude round shank .3 x .7. The different stylus tones down the 440 stylus which can be aggressive up top. Both have a different (from the 95) stylus fitment called the 100/120 series. These are not interchangeable with the 95/3472 series which includes the Clearaudio. The 150MLX is another of the 100 series and sounds wonderful on a 120 body.
I don't know the phono input capacitance of your Adcom, but that might be the reason for the brightness. The total input capacitance is that of the preamp + cables + internal arm wire. Many vintage preamps have phono input capacitance of 225pF. Ideal load for AT seems to be 150pF total.
AT MM have an unusually long break in. Maybe that's the problem?
With the 95/3472 series your limited to replacement styli with bonded tips. Many people send their Clearaudio to Soundsmith for a ruby cantilevered replacement stylus. I have a Virtuoso and it sounds nearly identical to my 95 (using same stylus). I believe the wood top on my series 1 Virtuoso damps some vibrations. My 95 is modified in that it has an aluminum top plate and is internally potted (somewhat).
The Linn K9 has the same stylus fitment, but a different generator than the 95. I believe inductance/resistance is higher.
The shibata stylus is sweeter up top. Maybe this is due to a curved contact area? Preference is system/taste dependent.
The 100E is an extremely good value for under $100. Stock it seems to be great on med mass arms, and internally is almost identical to the 150MLX. It takes that series stylus and with an ATN150MLX you have a virtual 150 that's about 2g lighter.
In all honesty I can't recommend any of these for you unless you can figure out why so bright.
Regards,
neo
BIRD LIVES
g
I know when I sold Precept (also made by Audio Technica) the nude stylus was a big step-up form the bonded.
on an SME10/SME V.
...And on my Naim ARO tone arm.
It was also my first cartridge I've mounted on a tone arm, too.
Enjoy.
Beautiful...thank you!
Whilst a picture is worth a thousand words, music, intangible, is worth a thousand pictures, ad infinitum.
r
I've not noticed that. Perhaps yours is defective.
Whilst a picture is worth a thousand words, music, intangible, is worth a thousand pictures, ad infinitum.
AT MM want to see < 200pF total capacitance load or they tend to get bright. The 95 is a neutral sounding cart, and has the same basic generator as all the Clearaudio MM. Specs are identical and AT is the OEM for Clearaudio.
An easy upgrade is a replacement stylus from LP Gear or Turntable Needles. Most are made by Jico and the quality is good. The top one is a shibata. For a moderate mass arm ( < 11g) I got better results with a 3472 series P-mount stylus. These are the ones with the tall sides which must be trimmed down. Superior tracking at 1.5g and seemingly faster response with the right arm - hard to go wrong. The AT92E(CD) has a .3 x .7 which works great and the whole cart is less than $25 at B & H.
neo
BIRD LIVES
and thought that the LP Gear's HE (hyper elliptical ) AT95E was better deal at 50USD or so. And that's the stylus I kept. It gives better frequency extensions top and bottom without going too smooth and laid back.
What I ended up liking was gray body Linn K9. Like Clearaudio, this also uses the same generator as the AT95E but replaces its bonded stylus with nude stylus as well as the outer housing is made of metal instead of plastic and the body itself was given a coat to give it a better rigidity and minimise ringing. A used K9 could be had for 50 bucks or so, roughly the same price as a new AT95E, but it's a hit and miss buying used cartridges.
AT95E variants sounded better when I lowered the loading in my system. I am surprised that they could still keep the price of AT95E as same as 10 years ago when the cost of some cartridges and styli *almost * doubled.
Look at the cartridge Rega mounted on this 350 euro RP1. This is a dirt cheap AT DJ cart i once ordered on a metal Jap headshell for 17 euro. An AT95 would be a big improvement.
"The torture never stops"Greetings Freek.
I was looking at the Regas yesterday, and sort of wishing I had got one of those instead, but this 2.1 isn't bad at all, other than its delicacy, with which I've had no issues.
By all means, upgrade to the AT95E, and...for a song.
Cheers,
Alan
Whilst a picture is worth a thousand words, music, intangible, is worth a thousand pictures, ad infinitum.
Please let us know how the new cartridge sounds. We have that exact turntable/cartridge in my wife's listening room and I have wondered how a cartridge upgrade would sound.
I've been listening with the AT95E for a bit. It's a marked improvement over the original "Tracker", no doubt.
I'm almost convinced that some manufacturers include sub-standard cartridges/styli with their turntables to provide the sheer fun of replacing it, perhaps knowing that to be one's first thought upon acquiring a new table, in course and over time making one that much more grateful and appreciative of the upgrade, as well as of the table itself.
Whilst a picture is worth a thousand words, music, intangible, is worth a thousand pictures, ad infinitum.
Thanks for the posts.
Thank you!
At present, B&H has the AT95E cartridge with stylus for less that $40, and with free shipping. You'll never look back.
Cheers,
Alan
Whilst a picture is worth a thousand words, music, intangible, is worth a thousand pictures, ad infinitum.
Will do! :)
Whilst a picture is worth a thousand words, music, intangible, is worth a thousand pictures, ad infinitum.
Unbeatable cart for the price. Setup is everything though.
"The torture never stops"Greetings Freek.
The instruction manual along with the tools provided with the 2.1 should ensure a successful installation, and then to break it in, as long as I don't break the arm.
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