-edible zone-



 The Cartridge Gallery

notes plus various detail images of phono cartridges, and headshells....



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ADC Audio Dynamics - a Peter Pritchard company which, in 1974, he sold to BSR which continued to market and mfr his designs.  Two examples of which are just below.

A list of compliance ratings and stylus configurations on different ADC XLM models:

 ADC ST Series: (Cartridge comes packaged with and mounted to (or in the case of the ST XLM-1, integrated into) a carbon fiber headshell that plugs into the ADC LMF-2 tonearm.

 ST XLM-1:

 


The ST XLM-1 series is integrated into its adjustable overhang headshell. The cartridge can not be separated from this headshell - and - said headshell is specific to the ADC LMF-2 tonearm.

Thanks to Alaskahiatt for these ST XLM-1 photos.

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ST XLM-II

   

Btw, with this model - ST XLM-II cartridges are simply removed from the packaged headshell.  The fasteners are 1/2" spaced and  can be used in several different tonearms of the appropriate low effective mass design. (cartridge compliance is 30 x 10-6cm/Dyne, tonearm should be low mass )

example:

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The ADC ST XLM-II mounted to the Infinity Black Widow tonearm. (3 grams effective mass)


STXLM-II manual-1Rs.jpg (581951 bytes)

STXLM-II manual-2Rs.jpg (831424 bytes)

 

More detailed photos:

 Note: Paired with the Infinity Black Widow tonearm - Review: (Link)



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  Warning: Denon DL-103R construction zone...

  (click thumbnail for full size image)

Above: an unmolested Denon DL-103R moving coil phono cartridge mounted in an RB250 tonearm.   It was found that this arm-cart-combo worked and sounded better with a headweight. (link to article)

See what happens when idiots - such as yours truly - become unleashed and then physically molest these popular-to-modify moving coil phonograph cartridges.

 

 

 

 

(click thumbnail for full size image)

Above 3 photos: Henry's DL-103 ready to move into one of Uwe's ebony bodies....and then it's in.

  Link to the build-article for more detailed info.



Below: My own Uwe ebony bodied DL-103R at work - with head weight - in a Graham 2.2.  The combo worked well.

  

Review pending. Or, at least, I owe a review on this model.  I've spent enought time listening to 4 or five of these. Anyway, here is a serious hitter for those who would care to put it in one of Uwe's wood bodies, then match it up with the appropriate step up transformer. It likes a fairly heavy tonearm. And then there are options regarding cantilever and stylus....!

Design dates to 1962. Initially intended for broadcast use. Still in production. Several variations were made over the years. Currently the two versions still being offered are the DL-103 and the DL-103R. The difference is in the copper coils. The "R" uses a higher purity copper, called "6-nines copper" (99.9999% pure) and has a different load impedance. The 103 and 103R share same family sound but offer slightly different tonal character and with the "-R" offering slightly improved upper frequency detail along with a smoother overall tone quality.

output voltage: .2 mV Load: 14 ohms (DL-103R) and 40 ohms (DL-103) both require voltage step-up (Footnote)

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Above: Denon DL-103R in one of Uwe's Panzerholtz bodies. Also installed by Soundsmith is one of their ruby cantilevered line-contact stylii.  Playing an Lp on the SP10 mkII.  Tonearm is the Graham 2.2.  This was a happy combination.

 


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 EMT TSD 15

 Uwe's EMT emt tsd 15 with modifications by UWE.

  action shot. Tonearm is the Schroeder CB

  mod revisions with smaller value capacitors, Panzerholz frame, Black Diamond and a big improvement in sound.



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  Grado Black

 DSC3563-Rs.jpg (click link to view full size image)

 DSC3564-Rs.jpg  Grado's least costly option - well populated throughout the country - not quite respectable and still available.

 
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  Ortofon MC Jubilee

  ortofon mc jubilee

  attempted close-up detail of the Shibata stylus.

  (click thumbnail for full size image)

 circa 2006, Review: (Link)

Specifications:



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 Pickering


 UV-15 / D 2000-Q

 

 Specifications:

Notes:

Recommended by Mfr for optimum performance.
When the cartridge is terminated in the recommended load of 100K ohms and 100 PF
Ouput with reference to 5.5 cm/sec record velocity.

Next three photos: microscope shots

  Left: at 100x -- front view of the Quadrahedral stylus.

  DSC1299-Rs.jpg  At 200x

  DSC1248-Rs.jpg At 200x - Evidence of light wear on the stylus.

Further notes:  This cartridge appears to have some life left in the stylus.  However, and regardless of which tonearm it's mounted in, it will not track the groove.  Presume suspension failure -- either deteriorated elastomer or other fault which I have yet to identify.  That said, I am intrigued by the uniqueness of this model and would like to experience it's sound qualities -- if it were possible to recondition the suspension.

 

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Shelter 501- Type II



 Specification:

Shelter's notes on the cantilever: "Cantilever is not covered by 1 year warranty. Please do not break it." Adjustment: "SHELTER recommends to change stylus pressure within recommended tracking force (1.4g to 1.8g) in summer and winter. in summer: .1g to .2g less, in winter .1g to .2g more"

My notes: This cartridge has character. Dynamic. Expressive. Emotional. Nice midrange. Bass is a little tight but extended and detailed. Nimble. Fast transients. Not a particularly great tracker.

 Review here - (Link)

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 Shure V15VxMR

This version of the V15 was made in Mexico. Now it is out of production. It's the last of the V15 series. It is a nice sounding moving magnet cartridge, if a touch rolled off in the high frequencies. Capacitance of your tonearm wires need to be around 250 pF. Load = 47kohms. Static compliance is approx. 20 x 10-6nm. Compliance of this model is not as soft as earlier V15 versions. I used it at first on the TP16 tonearm (16.5g eff mass) with satisfactory if not optimal results.  It mated well with my SME 3009 S2 and then the S2 improved tonearms, also the Rega RB250 tonearm; - Not so well with the Graham 2.2. - Fairly well with the Infinity Black Widow tonearm. A touch laid back in its presentation. -Not my favorite Shure but still very good.

Output voltage: 3 mV does not require step-up

* (click thumbnail for full size image)

Above: The Shure mounted to a Graham 2.2 tonearm

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Shure M91-E

 

From the early 1970's, here is the Shure M91-E First version. With the clip. Often under-rated, but just as often said to compare well with the top of the line V15 series from the same period. I'm presently using this sample in an Infinity Black Widow tonearm with excellent results. The original stylus assembly on this sample is long gone. It came to me with a new Pfanstiehl #761 elliptical stylus / aluminum cantilever assembly. A bit later I purchased from LP Tunes a Jico SAS stylus assembly. The Jico has the alu/boron cantilever with their SAS stylus profile. It is a replacement for the N91 Shure assembly. I like it.

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Above: BW tonearm with the Shure M91E / Jico SAS

Thus equipped, in the BW arm, situated on the Thorens TD124, it has the Shure family sound with very good detail both micro and macro. Very good low bass extension which is neither loose nor tight. And weighty where it is supposed to be. Mid-bass seems to be voiced for a touch of emphasis. Right where I like it, actually. Midrange and treble seem natural to my ear with no sense of emphasis or the lack thereof. Higher frequencies are also very good.

  Jico N91E Jico N91E

 

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Sonic Research Inc., Danbury Conn.

Sonus Blue a Peter Pritchard Design

  

Above photo: Sonus Blue in the Infinity Black Widow Tonearm.  A happy combo.

  (click thumbnail for full size image)

 

 

 Sonus Blue specifications from user manual:

 Review:  (Link)
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Sumiko Blue Point Special

   Sumiko Blue Point Special


 Modeled in Rhino 3D circa 2003. Rendered in Rhino.

High Output Moving Coil. Load= 47Kohms. Works with standard MM phono stages common to most 60's,70's and 80's good quality stereo receivers.

In the late 1990's this cartridge received rave reviews within the audio press. Based on these recommendations I purchased the above sample. In practice I found that the cartridge was a good compliance match to the Thorens TP16 (mk 1) tonearm on my TD160. I also noticed that there was absolutely nothing remarkable about the sonic performance of this cartridge. Average sounding. Pretty good.  Can't complain. Not great. ...since the first iteration, Sumiko has worked to improve this model. The Blue Point Special Evo would be one example of this. I haven't tried this one, however there are some positive reviews to be read of the BPS Evo.

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 Technics EPC205C mkII

 

Cartridge specs:
Type: Moving Magnet

  EPC205CmkII

(click thumbnails for full size imagery)

  Mounted to the Infinity Black Widow tonearm/Thorens TD124 turntable.

 

   

Above 3 photos: microscope shots.

I have a review of this cartridge from 2017 mounted in the Black Widow tonearm.

 Review: (Link)

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 Orsonic AV-101S, anti-vibration universal head shell

  (click thumbnail for full size image)

Above: The Orsonic in use with an SME 3009 S2 / rebodied Denon DL-103R

Made in Japan.

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Notes on cartridge compliance rating systems:

The Dynamic rating:

There is at least one thing the Technics EPC 205C-II and a Denon DL-103R *have in common. Their rated compliance value is achieved through the same kind of test procedure where: dynamic compliance @100hz is measured by determining the minimum VTF at which the onset of mistracking occurs when playing a 50um amplitude 100Hz frequency modulated groove. We can find reference to this explanation from noted tonearm manufacturer H.H. Moerch at his website where he has published a downloadable pdf we can refer to.

Here’s a link to that document:

http://www.moerch.dk then go to: homepage/instructions/cartridge armtube combination list)

In his paper, Moerch offers a simple means to translate from the dynamic @100Hz value to the more common 10Hz rating that many/most cartridges use. Simply take the rated "dynamic" value and multiply by anywhere from 1.5 to 2. The Technics rated dynamic compliance of 10 * 10^6 cm/dyne, multiply by 2 = 20 at the 10Hz method. And this is a value that can be plugged into a formula offered within the same Moerch paper where the said formula can be used to predict the tonearm/cartridge system resonance. Here it is:

Using the above formula and plugging in the required values from the Black Widow spec list I came up with a predicted arm/cartridge resonance at 10.9hz. This proved to be close to reality. When using the HFN-001 test record, side 2 track 2** the measured resonance was 11Hz. The formula appears to work and so did H.H. Moerch’s simple method of conversion (times 2) noted above.

The Static compliance rating system: to be added

The 10Hz compliance rating system: to be added


footnotes on compliance rating systems:

*and many other phono cartridges. When the compliance rating says "dynamic" we presume this is what they mean.

** HFN-001 side 2 track 2 is the band that tests for arm/cartridge system resonance -- lateral.





General Footnotes:

Generally, low output moving coil cartridges are favored by many.  Yet the disadvantage is that the output voltage is so low it requires a step-up device in line between itself and the phono-preamplifier. Another critical factor is the introduction of noise and hum into this very fragile and vulnerable signal. Great care must be taken to transform and deliver the signal cleanly into the phono-preamplifier.