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In Reply to: B&O vs. Shure V15 III posted by PanzerVI on April 27, 2007 at 01:56:45:
A healthy MMC-4 completely trounces a V-15. Unfortunately, as they age, their performance degrades until they sound like a "hi-fi" am transistor radio! Their flagship cartridges are among the very best!The replacements from Sound-Smith seem to have a longer lifespan.
Also, the RX-2 and the rest of its generation are inferior to their predecessors.
I had an original, slightly modified RX with an MMC-2. It originally came with an MMC-5 that was past its prime. It sounded like sh*t! It had a flat, undefined soundstage with poor imaging to boot.
Once modified (mil-spec silver litz wire, no bottom cover, cones coupling plinth to 1/4inch thick granite slab that sat ontop of small sandbox, Michell clamp, fresh MMC-2), it easily bettered all of the hi-end tables that I had used previously, except it ultimately lacked their weight and heft.
Today, I recommend using the Sound-Smith B&O cartridges with a Pro-ject Xperience or a mid-grade Micro Seiki. They mate best with light to medium mass tonearms like my Grace 707 MKII or a Micro CF-1/2/MA-707, and optimally with the arm on the Xperience (light counterweight).
Follow Ups:
Thank's, George. Well, My first set-up was the Dual/V15
with a Nikko receiver and store branded speakers that come to think
of it looked suspiciously like the A-25's. I still have the
' Dukes of Dixieland ' vinyl and to my memory sounded better on that
outfit as compared to the B&O MMC 4, 3012A, Boston 3-way's I'm
using now. But, I can't lay the blame 100% on the turntable, but you have to wonder considering the rest of the system. I'm not inclined to go the DIY route, don't WANT to get that bug, and besides, I'm lucky if I get the interconnects right. No point in
spending $ if as another contributer claims, this is a low end
B&O. Are you saying that the MMC 1-5, or all the MMC series cartridges fail to age gracefully? Soundsmith doesn't re-build the
MMC 20 series, or the MMC 5-3. It may just be time to say
goodbye to the B&O. I spoke to Shure and they say that their cartridges for the most part don't degrade like that.
All of the original MMC's degrade rather rapidly. Both your table and cartridge are likely at fault.
But SoundSmith DOES sell NEWLY manufactured versions of the MC20 carts... their 20EN clone being the most reasonable choice.
--
simul justus et peccator
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