fini Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 I am thinking the Shure cartridge on the Black Widow arm/ Kenwood KD-500 TT may be part of the problem on my vinyl quest. As some may recall, I've gotten a lot of acoustic feedback, and am waiting for materials to arrive with which I will build an isolation platform. The cartridge is a V15 type IV (used---I know---) fitted with a new type III stylus (replacement from Shure: they were out of the type IV's). I have a virtually new Grado Black (which exhibited the famous "Grado dance" while fitted on my Pioneer PL-41). I'm not sure if that's a good match for the Kenwood/Infinity rig or not. The trouble with freely swapping them out on the Black Widow is, mounting them is a PIA, especially with those tiny, very easily broken wires, and the absence of a headshell. Anyone have a suggestion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Get a new arm. I've found the shure V15 to be the easiest cart to work with. It tracks so well. I have a hard time believing the cart is the problem but what do I know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted December 28, 2003 Author Share Posted December 28, 2003 Gary, Since the cartridge was used when I got it, it could be real screwed-up. Don't know, just guessin'. Yeah, it hasn't jumped out of the groove, but it sounds crappy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai2000 Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Fini, I am not enough of a tech to talk about possible wrongs when it comes to the arm on your TT (and I am sure you current cartridge fits to the arm's parameters), but if you are looking for an excellent MM cartridge I can still recommend the Garrott that Gary is using as well. I think for the price it's a real steal!!! Good luck sorting your problem. Wolfram Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3dzapper Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 I didn't think that any other styli would work with a V15-IV. At least that is what is said on Shure's web site: http://shure.custhelp.com Search:Why is the V15IV stylus no longer available? Or as I did: V15IV stylus. That may be part of your problem fini. Maybe you could send them an email. I'm with garymd on this. I really like my V15 IV. I just bought another one because my first one lost it's tip. Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted December 28, 2003 Author Share Posted December 28, 2003 Rick, I got the replacement directly from Shure. They a-shured (haha) me that it would fit and work, and there is a post on their FAQ page that sez so, too. Where did you get a type IV? Was it the whole cartridge, or the stylus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted December 28, 2003 Author Share Posted December 28, 2003 Wolfram, I've seen posts elswhere indicating the V15 mates exceptionally well with the other components. Where have you scored the cartridge you recommended to Gary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkrop Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 1) Get your largest hammer.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3dzapper Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 "Where did you get a type IV? Was it the whole cartridge, or the stylus?" Ebay. I thought it was just a stylus and bid accordingly. Turns out it was a NOS cartridge. I think it came to $82 with insured postage. I have informed my wife that I need to get a new TT. I am thinking that the Music Hall MMF-9 might be in my future: http://show.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/sh.pl?0&1&adlr&Underwoodwally&1& Any opinions? Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Regarding the Garrott P-77. I got it at Needle Doctor. $200 (reg. $500). I think it's a great cart and excellent bargain. Sounds excellent with the scott. My marantz is having some phono section problems so nothing sounds good on that right now. It's a steal at $200 if they still have some and just as easy to work with as the shure. Tracks very well also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Would going the MC route be barking up the wrong tree? I had a high-output Sumiko Blue Point MC that didn't require a MC stepup transformer (can be used at MM setting on your preamp/receiver)...it kicked major butt and sounded so "live"...more so than any MM I owned previously. Just a thought... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted December 28, 2003 Author Share Posted December 28, 2003 Jim, I don't think MC is an option with the Black Widow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Oh... The Blue Point is a low mass cartridge; is your tonearm only designed for MM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai2000 Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Fini, Needle Doctor indeed - thanks Gary for providing the info. Oh, I have a friend who owns a version of the Shure V15 and the Garrott struck me as more musical (dynamic and smooth at the same time). IMO certainly worth trying! Wolfram Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodger Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Hello: Depending on the age, humidity, clean contacts?, and use, I would go with Wolfram's, Gary's or an Ortofon suggestion. Sometimes it takes a bit to find the right cartridge that your system will like. Good Luck. Win Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvannote Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Have you given much thought to the Ortofon carts? Seems to me that their "Ultra Low Mass" carts may be a better match for the Black Widow which is extremely low mass in its own right. I think I have an OM10 around here that you can play with if you like. (Needs a stylus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted December 28, 2003 Author Share Posted December 28, 2003 I might take you up on that (especially since you're in the neighborhood!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted December 29, 2003 Share Posted December 29, 2003 The guys at needle doctor said the garrott is much more musical than the shure, just as Wolfram stated. I think they both are nice. Not really sure what more musical means though. Music sounds good through both of them to my ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxg Posted December 29, 2003 Share Posted December 29, 2003 There seems to be rather more to arm/cartridge matching than most think. I know neither your arm nor your cartridge but I found a fairly useful formula for establishing the resonant frequency of an arm/cart combo as follows: Resonant Frequency = 1000/<6.28*square root (M*C)> Where: M = the combined mass of the arm and cartridge (arm mass also expressed as apparent mass for some arms), and C = the Compliance of the cartridge. The resultant range for the resonance should be in the order of 9 to 15 Hz with anything between 9 and 11 described as ideal. Lower than this and you get problems with warped records causing the needle to jump, higher than this and the bottom end of the music itself starts to interfere with the playback. YMMV... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted December 29, 2003 Author Share Posted December 29, 2003 ---------------- On 12/29/2003 5:09:22 AM maxg wrote: Resonant Frequency = 1000/<6.28*square root (M*C)> ---------------- Max, just to clarify: One thousand divided by 6.28 times the square root of the product of M times C? Now I just have to do some homework, finding the M & C of my rig! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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