Grado

[topround]

Yes more money, but you won't have to buy another cartridge after you realize the Grado you bought at half off, is not that good and half off well...sort of like buying the wrong size shoes at half off....why bother

or try the Clearaudio MM...very good for the money
and buy new. MM's are cheap enough that saving up for a new one is worth it.

MC's....well they  get expensive ..fast

Besides everyone gets Grados for half off, so the savings is really not that real

Didn't realize Soundsmith raised his prices so high, they used to be a lot cheaper

[paskinn]

Greetings; my first post, and as I am in the UK, I may have a slightly different perspective. I have used Grados, off and on, over a couple of decades, along with quite a few Moving Coils and some standard moving magnets.
   I think they  offer a different way of hearing the music...a little warmer and more relaxed than many moving coils. They are not necessarily 'better' or 'worse'....just different.
  Recently I have been comparing a Grado signature master, a wooden bodied Grado which retails at $1000. I find it rather excellent, and well able to stand comparison with my Koetsu Urushi. As I said, different rather than better or worse. Overall the better Grados seem a quite convincing alternative to the sharper, brighter sounding moving coils. I wouldn't dismiss them as inferior in any way. They are, in truth, world class cartridges designed for a specific sector of the market.
   Horses for courses and all that.....
   

[StereoNut]

Welcome aboard, Paskinn!

[jimbones]

you should have sufficient information to confuse you now! 

[Triode Pete]

Greetings; my first post, and as I am in the UK, I may have a slightly different perspective. I have used Grados, off and on, over a couple of decades, along with quite a few Moving Coils and some standard moving magnets.
   I think they  offer a different way of hearing the music...a little warmer and more relaxed than many moving coils. They are not necessarily 'better' or 'worse'....just different.
  Recently I have been comparing a Grado signature master, a wooden bodied Grado which retails at $1000. I find it rather excellent, and well able to stand comparison with my Koetsu Urushi. As I said, different rather than better or worse. Overall the better Grados seem a quite convincing alternative to the sharper, brighter sounding moving coils. I wouldn't dismiss them as inferior in any way. They are, in truth, world class cartridges designed for a specific sector of the market.
  Horses for courses and all that.....
   

Welcome aboard, paskinn!

...and I agree with paskinn as well... different, not necessarily bad. I had a wood bodied Grado Sonata, which was very musical & fantastic with female vocals. Yes, it was on the warm side but very musical. I then upgraded to a wood-bodied Clearaudio Maestro...everything the Grado had but more; more extension (on both extremes) with tons of PRAT so I agree with Topround as well as far as his Clearaudio recommendation...

Yes, horses for courses... and don't forget about synergy between tables & phono-preamps as well as everyone's personal tastes!

Cheers,
Pete

[sleepyguy24]

Welcome Paskinn. Glad you are contributing here. What associated gear have you used with those wooden bodied Grado carts and got the results you heard?

[StereoNut]

you should have sufficient information to confuse you now! 

Nah!  I'm just taking it all in, Jimmy.  It's all good.

SN

[paskinn]

Welcome Paskinn. Glad you are contributing here. What associated gear have you used with those wooden bodied Grado carts and got the results you heard?

Mainly an SME 30-12 turntable with 12inch V5 arm. Then into either a Aurorasound Vida phonostage or a Croft riaa valve phonostage with Music first step-up. Amps, mainly SET valve items, including the Audionote Jinro.
    Speakers, Audionote  E HSE and various horn speakers. Occasionally I return to earth and use Quad electrostatics, often driven by a Quad 909 power amp.
     Over the years I have come to suspect that there is no 'right' way to reproduce music; just whatever suits us! I think most of us also like the 'boys toys'aspect of the hobby. And why not. It's just a bit of fun in a world which isn't always so amusing.
   

[sleepyguy24]

Hi Paskinn

Thanks for taking the time out to reply in such detail. Man you have got some nice kit over there. I like knowing what kind of gear it takes to get the listening results someone achieves.

[richidoo]

I think most of us also like the 'boys toys'aspect of the hobby. And why not. It's just a bit of fun in a world which isn't always so amusing.  

Well said!

That's why jealousy and envy is not allowed here. We enjoy the luxury of audiophile music to the fullest.