 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
In Reply to: Re: Opinions on Cardas Heart? - Pesky Problem! posted by ANM on May 12, 1999 at 10:19:15:
Thanks for the prompt reply. I should further explain a few things. First, I'm not considering replacing the Grasshopper with the Cardas Heart. I bought the Cardas new from the guy I bought the table from and haven't had a chance to listen yet and was just curious of others' experiences and what I might expect.Next, I know this tracking force seems ridiculously low but let me explain the reasons behind it. I bought the Grasshopper IV from an editor at the now defunct FI Magazine. It had just come back from the Netherlands from its 100-200 hour check-up (as certified by A. J. van den Hul and Stanalog Productions, the US van den Hul importer). When originally made, the Hopper's suggested tracking force was between 1.3 and 1.5 grams -- pretty normal. However, when it came back from it's tune-up, the exact language in the letter from A.J. and George Stanwyck read: "The new tracking force has been set at between .6 and .7 grams and should be fine there with minimal record wear. If you would like it adjusted back to the 1.3 to 1.5 grams, please advise."
From what I've come to understand through George Stanwyck, A.J. van den Hul is now setting all the Hoppers this way and apparently the "guts" (nice technical term eh?) of the cartridge have been set to accomodate this lighter tracking force and in George's words "the Grasshopper is a very compliant cartridge." He also said that now that it's optimized for that tracking force that I should not set it at anything much higher than .8 or it will not sound good and could cause further wear. The cartridge is so compliant that, even at .66 , .75 or .8 grams(which I have had it set at using a Cartridge Man digital tracking force guage), the bottom of the cartridge BARELY misses hitting the record. I'm afraid that going up to 1.5 or so would cause it to bottom out. In addition, the VTA on this cartridge is supposed to be 2-3 degrees higher than parallel (i.e. higher at the pivot point). Although I could have the SRA or Azimuth off, I don't think it's that far off if at all. I used the alignment device that came with the 12" JMW Memorial arm and table. As far as anti-skate goes, VPI does not believe in a lot of anti-skate and I think it's ok but I'm going to check again tonight. However, that thought definitely crossed my mind. I figured with the tracking force that low, any inordinate pull towrds the center of the record or too much anti-skate could cause the stylus to sit in the groove wrong.
Finally, the table is about 5-6 feet behind my speakers (Hales Transcendence Eights -no subwoofer problem) and sitting on a Bright Star Platform on a VPI-TNT stand weighing in at 475 lbs. on a cement slab floor, so I don't think it's a speaker/table interaction thing but I certainly could be wrong as I have been too often in my life!!
Anyway, I should say that, when this little nagging problem isn't happening, this cartridge/arm/table sounds fantastic!! It just drives me crazy to be in full eargasm (got that one from Steve Tafka!) and then have a female voice or jazz trumpet sound like I'm clipping a Technics 30 watt receiver (on an AM station) through some wonderful Radio Shack Optimus Speakers!!! On the serious side, if I check and/or correct all my adjustments again and it still does it, from what you guys are telling me and based on my own frazzled brain, I may need to send it back to van den Hul and have the tracking force set back to 1.5 grams. If it still does it then, it's back to the drawing board and possbly a mental institution!! Thanks again guys, if you have any further thoughts, I promise not to be so verbose next time. Take care and happy listening!
Frank P.
Frank, each Grasshopper which is sent to the Netherlands is optimzed for a specific arm and also (if the user wants) for a specific class of recrdings (i.e., jazz, classical, etc.). Do you know if the person at Fi had a TNT IV with the JMW 12" arm exactly like yours? If not, you will have to send it back to the Netherlands for re-optimization of the suspension. Yes, I'm aware that the Grasshopper is unusual in that it is a very "compliant" cartridge for a MC which weighs 8 grams. My reason for asking about feedback had to do with feedback received through the air, not through the floor, and all the isolation in the world would not prevent that. If the turntable stand is "centered" behind the speakers, it should be at least 24" from the wall. Acoustical energy is "airborne" and for such a light tracking force, even if it's "optimum", the turntable should be in a separate room. "Breathing" hard would disturb the stylus at that VTF with the table in the same room with large speakers played at just about any volume level. Without a "separate room" situatiion, I would have VdH readjust the compliance back to the default original higher value. I understand that they will do this, as you suggest doing.Antiskating usually doesn't enter as a big factor with high tracking non-compliant MC cartridges (i.e., usually around 2 grams) and is not that critical at that point, but at .7 grams the centipetal force of the tonearm mass would require precise antiskating. Also, did VPI say that the JMW arm is an "outstanding" tracker at .7 grams? By the specs, this is the "lower" limit of the arm traacking ability. If it were the "middle" range of the tracking range, I would not be concerned. Few arms today can track well at that VTF because most good, expensive arms today assume a high quality non-compliant moving coil (or other) will probably be played with it. Unfortunately, there are no universal arms that are all things to all cartridges.
Hey ANM! Thanks again. I think you may be absolutely right!! The original owner was using a $55,000 ROCKPORT SIRIUS 3 !!!! My GOD what and the heck was I thinking?? DUH!!! Also, thanks for the tip on the feedback. The stand is actually only about 10" from the rear wall - almost directly behind the left speaker (actually about 3' behind it measured from the front of the table. So you're probably right about the airborne feedback or vibration at this low tracking force. I'm not sure I can remove table from the room - but I'll check it out. So, unless I can I think I will be sending the back to the Netherlands to have the tracking force set back up to 1.5 grams or whatever is optimal for my arm/table. Thanks again for all of your input and help. I'll keep you posted on how it turns out. Happy listening!!Frank P.
Good luck and best wishes. I sent you a private e-mail.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
