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A ten year old NOS cartridge

116.12.218.146
Posted on November 4, 2009 at 02:06:58
FrenchFries
 Hi,

A dealer found out that he still has a piece of out-of-production, but brand new Goldring Excel VX MC cartridge, and offered it to me at $400.

Will it work without problems?
I've heard that suspension hardens over time, even if it is brand new. So will the this new cartridge still perform as good as it was years ago, and will it be able to last me for the next 3 to 5 years?

The lowest price I know of in early '2000 during the production clear-out was about $600. At $400 and at this age brand new, is it still worth getting it?

I am currently using an Ortofon Rondo Bronze, which is about 4 yrs old.

Appreciate your advice!
Cheers!

Thank you for all your advice, posted on November 6, 2009 at 18:50:33
FrenchFries
 I gather that the age is not much of an issue but rather if I will like the sonic performance of the Goldring Excel VX cartridge.

Thanks.

It's not the age that matters, but whether you'd be disappointed..., posted on November 4, 2009 at 08:28:49
richardz
Audiophile

Posts: 434
Location: Southern UK
Joined: March 12, 2006
 with the Excel after your Rondo Bronze. I'm not sure that you'd be upgrading or downgrading.

It might be worth exploring the cost of a straight re-tip for the Rondo if you can't run to a new factory exchange. I'm going to do it with my MC25FL when the time comes as I'm very happy with it.

I've just started using a 45+ year old Goldring 600 mono cartridge that has been sitting around for several decades. I don't know if both styli are original, but using records that are expendable it seems to be getting better all the time.


It's great when it goes around to make a sound.
RE: A ten year old NOS cartridge, posted on November 4, 2009 at 07:00:32
AudioSoul
Audiophile

Posts: 1492
Location: north central AZ
Joined: July 9, 2005
Contributor
  Since: September 24, 2009
I purchased some NOS stylus for my Signet TKE cart and they work great.
It all depends on how they were stored I guess. I would try to find some reviews on line of that cart to see if it is in the ballpark of the kind of sound you are looking for. $ 400.00 is a lot of money if you dont like the cart, and you mite not be able to sell it.....

RE: A ten year old NOS cartridge, posted on November 4, 2009 at 06:56:24
Lew
Audiophile

Posts: 2686
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Joined: December 11, 2000
 I recently resurrected my Grado TLZ, which I purchased new back in the 80's. It had been on the shelf for over 20 years. I revived it by playing the Cardas test LP, particularly tracks 2a, b, and c, several times over. Then I let it play an LP I detest about 10 more times, with the rest of the system shut down. This Rx seems to have brought it back nicely.

Did it sound "off" that you did that or just, posted on November 4, 2009 at 09:06:59
Muzikmike
Reviewer

Posts: 7323
Location: SoCentral PA
Joined: December 19, 2007
Contributor
  Since: August 5, 2008
 did it thinking it would be what you "should" do? I may have skipped school the day they talked about it. I'm not pickin', but I don't remember ever hearing that you should do something like that.

Maybe I'm a bad boy, but I began using my Supex cartridge from the day I got it. It was already mounted on the headshell of the Pioneer PA1000 arm. I checked its alignment and then off to the races...or grooves.

I learn something every day here at AA.


There is no such thing as too many records.
There is just too little room for them!
RE: Did it sound "off" that you did that or just, posted on November 4, 2009 at 10:30:49
Lew
Audiophile

Posts: 2686
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Joined: December 11, 2000
 It was more or less done on an empirical basis, meaning I assumed I assumed in advance that it would need some break-in.

In truth, I did listen to it before going thru the process I described. On the first cut from having been dead for 20 years, it really sounded bad. Gain was way down and there was virtually no bass or treble. The frequency response was similar to that of a telephone. By the end of that first side, it had perked up quite a bit, but overall gain was still less than it should be, and there was quite a bit of mistracking at recommended VTF. In fact, I had to increase the recommended max VTF by 0.5gm to get decent tracking. Now, after the forced break-in, it is much better, but I wonder whether it will get better even yet, with more use.

I didn't even think of listening closely, posted on November 4, 2009 at 11:00:21
Muzikmike
Reviewer

Posts: 7323
Location: SoCentral PA
Joined: December 19, 2007
Contributor
  Since: August 5, 2008
 to the Supex, at first the table was merely a "table to put onto a second system" and then when I did hear something "worthy" I decided it was more than "just" a table.

Therefore, I have no idea if it sounded better after a few LPs or not...damn!

If you can, keep me informed as to whether it keeps on improving. I'm really interested! As I said, "I learn something new every day."

Of course, it may just bea reminder and I don't know. I left my brain in San Francisco, high on a hill...really high (In my case, San Diego).


There is no such thing as too many records.
There is just too little room for them!
RE: I didn't even think of listening closely, posted on November 4, 2009 at 11:42:50
Lew
Audiophile

Posts: 2686
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Joined: December 11, 2000
 As a physician, I can tell you that leaving your heart in San Francisco and your brain in San Diego is a recipe for disaster, especially when your body is in Pennsylvania. No wonder you lose things.

That didn't get a smile, posted on November 4, 2009 at 11:52:27
Muzikmike
Reviewer

Posts: 7323
Location: SoCentral PA
Joined: December 19, 2007
Contributor
  Since: August 5, 2008
 I laughed gleefully out loud.

If a man laughs out loud and there isn't a woman around to hear it...


There is no such thing as too many records.
There is just too little room for them!
RE: A ten year old NOS cartridge, posted on November 4, 2009 at 04:30:28
markinuk
Audiophile

Posts: 294
Location: Surrey
Joined: January 13, 2003
 Hi,

The cartridge would quite likely be fine. My only question would be whether it is as good as the Rondo Bronze you're used to. The Excel VX was considered slightly disappointing when it was in production, IIRC.

However, at $400 it must be worth trying. It would probably be a lot cheaper than a Rondo Bronze on exchange, assuming your unit is in need of replacement.

HTH,

Mark

RE: A ten year old NOS cartridge, posted on November 4, 2009 at 03:34:05
Brian C.
Audiophile

Posts: 807
Location: West Essex, near London
Joined: May 27, 2000
 Don't know about Goldring but I am happily using an Ortofon S15 that had lain unused for 40 years with no problems at all.

Brian.

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