Home Vinyl Asylum

Welcome Licorice Pizza (LP) lovers! Setup guides and Vinyl FAQ.

Alternatives for Grace 707

My last VN5MR for my Shure V-15 Type V got broken recently. I am trying to get another stylus (may have to pay $300) in hope that JICO will come out with a VN5-SAS replacement soon. If this doesn't work out, I will have to look at alternatives. I want to keep the G707 and use a cartridge with high enough compliance to play to the Grace's strength (its low mass.) Some alternatives I have considered, and possible objections follow. Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Stuff a JICO VN45 SAS in my Type V: reportedly "works" but doesn't sound as good as a true IV/4 or V/5 combination.

Get a used Type IV body and fit with JICO VN45: hard to find, and some say not as good sounding as either Type III or V.

Get a used Type III body with JICO VN35-SAS: could do, but might need to add some small caps at my phono input since the III was designed to drive phono cables with about 450pF (possible but PITA.)

Get an M97xE: definitely won't sound as good.

Get a MC cartridge: most are way too low compliance, also I'd rather not have to get a SUT. Would consider HOMC if any are a good match to the Grace (doubt it.)

Grado: enticing, but maybe still not high enough compliance.

AT440 and others: reputedly bright sounding, not my preferred direction.

Try the new JICO cartridge with SAS: Also enticing, but same compliance as Grados (20 x 10^-6 cm/dyne.)

I'd really rather leave the Type V in place and just keep changing styli, but that may not fly much longer. Any ideas?


This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Sonic Craft  


Topic - Alternatives for Grace 707 - JJ Triode 12:10:53 04/12/07 (9)


You can not post to an archived thread.