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+--- Thread: need new phono cartridge reco? -calling Yoyodyne (/showthread.php?tid=28084)
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need new phono cartridge reco? -calling Yoyodyne - Psurfer - 02-15-2007
Yoyodyne Artworks (recent forum contributor, whose name Sounds like an audio company) had the best guess of my stereo troubles of the other day- the problem is the cartridge itself. It's stylus looks to be at a new strange angle; nearer to perpendicular to the platter than it should be. Needs a fix or replacement.
It's a JG mdl Grado on a Dual CS5000. Cartr is a moving magnet, silver and black. (I think later Grado came out w/a much more expensive JG; this one was ?$100 way back when). Are replcmnt stylus' avail or worth the trouble?
Any deals on good repl cartrs/ good vendors? When I still knew what brands were good, there used to be a cheap Goldring that was highly regarded. What's the bargain cartr now?
Running through an old orig mdl Hafler preamp, and Adcom 535II amp.
Re: need new phono cartridge reco? -calling Yoyodyne - deckeda - 02-15-2007
http://www.needledoctor.com/
There are other places to look too, or your local hifi shop if you have one. Check out a Stereophile for more ads/places to look. gradolabs.com might tell you if a stylus is available for your cart, but consider getting a whole new cart if it's been a few years.
The CS5000 is a solid deck!
Re: need new phono cartridge reco? -calling Yoyodyne - MGS_forgot_password - 02-15-2007
Isn't Yoyodyne the name of the company from the Buckaroo Bonzai movie?
Re: need new phono cartridge reco? -calling Yoyodyne - Yoyodyne ArtWorks - 02-15-2007
Yep, "Yoyodyne" comes from that great movie (and a Thomas Pynchon book before that). "Yoyodyne ArtWorks" is the name of a graphic design company I founded many years ago; the company was retired but I kept the name.
Back to audio...I second deckeda's recommendation of www.needledoctor.com. But first I would contact Grado Labs and ask them which current replacement stylus is correct for your cartridge. Depending on how old your current cartridge is, it might make more sense to replace the whole thing, if you are comfortable with the procedure. Taking care not to damage the cantilever, not over-tightening the mounting bolts and getting the alignment right are the main challenges. If you're not comfortable replacing the cartridge, installing a new stylus is as simple as pulling the old one off and plugging the new one in.
The Goldring Elan is a solid budget cartridge, and I'm also quite partial to Rega (the Bias 2 is $125), though the latter only delivers its best in Rega tonearms. If you've been happy with the sound of your Dual/Grado setup, I would suggest sticking with Grado cartridges. A Grado Blue Prestiege or Red Prestiege would keep you in the $100 or so range. The Dual is indeed a solid budget table, but not up there with the likes of Rega, Linn, Roksan, VPI, SOTA, etc., so it wouldn't make sense to spend too much more on the cartridge. Your original table/cart combo sounds very practical and cost-effective, so I would try to stick with that balance when addressing your cartridge issue. If you have any other questions I'd be glad to help out.
Re: need new phono cartridge reco? -calling Yoyodyne - Silencio - 02-15-2007
I have an old Dual 721 from the late 70s. Built like a friggen' tank. Solid piece of German kit.
Can't wait to get a Rega Planar 25, though.
Re: need new phono cartridge reco? -calling Yoyodyne - Yoyodyne ArtWorks - 02-15-2007
Yeah, a Planar 25 (now updated and rechristened the P5) is my goal too. It's a great price/performance value, though I suppose the Planar 3 (now P3) is pretty darn good at about half the price. I used to be in the audio biz and got to chat with Roy Gandy, the man seriously knows his stuff.
Now if I didn't have to replace the gutters, get a new bathtub and washer/dryer for our "quaint" 82 year old house I'd be all set to splash out on a new stereo... sigh
Re: need new phono cartridge reco? -calling Yoyodyne - Fritz - 02-15-2007
if it's older then 10 years, get a new one.
Grado or Ortofon would bee my rec.
Re: need new phono cartridge reco? -calling Yoyodyne - Yoyodyne ArtWorks - 02-15-2007
Appearances to the contrary, I actually do know how to spell "Prestige." Doh!
Re: need new phono cartridge reco? -calling Yoyodyne - Psurfer - 02-15-2007
Danke- Yoyo and deckeda, sounds like for $20 or $35 +7s/h, I'll be back in biz w/a repl stylus. Getting away that cheaply would be great; I agree that sinking too much money in a near-antique mid-level system would be unwise.
The Needledoctor (ominous name, there...) says all the Grado styli fit all Grado carts, the diffs mainly being level of quality control.
Grado is closed today (weather or flu), so I'll wait for them to tell me which one I should use -there's no mdl # on it, I think it May be an FTE+1 or FCE+1. NeedleDr will take it back if doesn't fit or solve the problem.
Btw, way back when I first got the Dual, someone who for a short time sold Rega's installed the Grado for me, and half-way through the process, repeatedly declared the Dual table "total garbage". Too bad I didn't get the Planar #?, but back then the auto arm lift at the LP's end was something I wasn't ready to give up.
Re: need new phono cartridge reco? -calling Yoyodyne - deckeda - 02-15-2007
That guy was an idiot, or a snob, or both. Anyone who's touched a CS5000 knows it's a well-made and quiet 'table; it just never had the audiophile cachet of the British tables.
The auto arm-lift at the end was of course a throwback to their heritage but couldn't realistically be argued it ever compromised the sound. Pity more manufacturers of "audiophile" turntables never even tried to do something similar.
I used to work in the biz back then and regretted not picking one up, but I had my old 504 that served me OK and soon went with a SOTA Comet. I don't think that its OEM Audioquest arm is anything special but I always have the option of easily dropping in a Rega for example.
What I need now is a local shop that will let me audition a few carts. My Grado's stylus is likely OK but after 10+ years of (mild) use could stand to be replaced.