What makes this all worthwhile......

Tonight a gentleman named Jack emailed me from Connecticut- Lived in Rochester in the '70s. Stumbled across my blog. Threw a few names at me that even  I had forgotten!

 Has JR-149s, Ariston table, Hafler amp, Proceed, and a few other things that I've shown  here.

. Dealt with some of the local dealers I mentioned. Specific questions about people he used to deal with that I am only too happy to answer!

  Another guy a month or so back that owns a Lead Balloon turntable stand like the one I bought a month or so ago and sold new at JB. He purchased it there way back when, and I remembered him!

  Another gentleman traveling to the area soon, and interested in stopping by some of the current places I mentioned.

 The interest is what sparks me, I am not doing this for any financial gain!

  Your feedback is very much appreciated, following me is even better!


  I would appreciate some of the local knowledgeable scholars getting involved with this!

  Take a minute, sign up for a Google,Yahoo,or Twitter  membership (if you don't have one) and click join this site!


   This way I will know there is at least some interest..........

Cartridge synopsis: my favorites

For the most part I prefer the low output moving coils, with a few exceptions. The Dynavectors being my first choice, I also was fortunate to purchase a new old stock GAS (Great American Sound) Sleeping Beauty a few years ago.  The Denon 103s have also been faithful standbys, primarily the D and the S. The regular 103 (conical) is still offered   today at a very reasonable- $229. from several sources. As mentioned earlier in this blog, a company called ZU modifies these extensively for big improvements at a still modest price.  Again, you may need an additional step up device for these, many modern preamps had this built in. I am currently using a Dayton Wright DW 535 that I was luck enough to find in mint condition on


Ebay. More step up recommendations later.......


   The Goldbug Ms. Brier pictured above is probably my biggest oooops! Broke the cantilever taking it out of a cartridge keeper.This was an offshoot of Koetsu, designed by Mr. Sugano, the same man.The body was carved from a single block of  brier wood. Sounded great what few times I used it before I busted it.......

 Moving magnets- I preferred the Shure V15 VMR and the Grace F9, Ruby, L, E, etc. Older Sonus, american made ADCs, and other cartridges were cool as well.


   Moving iron, definetly the B&O MMC series and the Grados.

  If I had to recommend a budget cartridge to somebody today trying to restore their vinyl capabilities it would probably be the Shure M97. For around $50. on Amazon, you can't go wrong! This has many of the same attributes as the older (now discontinued) V15.

Esoteric cartridge technologies

The Ram and Panasonic Strain Gauge cartridges, the Decca London, a few electret condensor and piezo crystal cartridges, many technologies have been tried over the years.

High output moving coil cartidges

The theoretical "best of all worls" might be the high output moving coil cartidge. The newest of the technologies, this is still almost 25 years old. A moving coil with substantial enough windings and strong enough fixed magnets to create almost as much output as a moving magnet. Think Sumiko, Adcom, some Denons, a few Dynavectors, and others. These as a rule work very well, occasionally not enough output for some preamps.

Moving Iron cartridges

Moving Iron, or variable reluctance cartridges are somewhere in the middle. A lower mass moving system with the higher output of a moving magnet, these are generally compatible, but not without their own set of complications. A small iron pole piece moves between the coils as opposed to a magnet.Think Grado, B&O, AKG, ADC, and a few others, these do not always work well on AC motor turntables. When the tonearm gets near the motor, a hum or buzz often occurs. This can happen with some of the VPI and early Linn Sondek  and AR tables.Especially with the Grados. This is generally not a problem with the majority of (DC) motor tables, which most are.

Low output Moving coil cartridges

Developed  years later, these tend to rank among the higher end of cartridges. Think Denon, Dynavector, many Ortofons, Supex, Koetsu, and most other serious cartridge companies that offered at least a few models in their lineup.These differ from moving magnet in that a small coil of wire as opposed to a magnet is what is moved by the generating system, the magnets themselves are fixed, therefore it weighs much less and is more accurately able to respond to the nuances of the record. The down side is that you need an extra stage of gain, as many preamps can't adequately amplify them, their output is generally fractions of what a moving magnet cartridge is. They require an additional "head amp", or transformer (more on this later) to step up the level to where many preamps can accept it.

Moving magnet cartridges

The most common and compatible cartridges for modern day hifi are of the moving magnet type, and encompass the majority of what is available to the general public. Think Shure, Audio Technica, Pickering, Stanton, Empire, and numerous others, these will work with just about any amplifier and are readily available through several outlets,  DJ sources, whatever. Most have a fairly high output, and various specs and applications will determine the use.The stylus motion causes an attached magnet to move between coils of wire generating a small amount of current (millivolts) that is amplified by the preamplifier.

Cartridges,needles, pickups, and stylii

One and the same. In case I haven't completely bored you with analog discussions, now I will get into the heart of the matter (literally). The cartridge being the first link in the analog chain, directly responsible for picking off the music from the record. First I will discuss the various types, then show examples of each. You have an old Pioneer table in the closet with a busted needle? You can spend anywhere from about $30. to several thousand on a new cartridge to get it working again. The simplest difference, since the '50s, has been between magnetic and ceramic cartridges. If you have a console or compact stereo, chances are good it will have a ceramic (or crystal) cartridge. This is most easily identified by the "flip over needle", 78 on one side and 33 or LP on the other. The ceramic generally doesn't require RIAA equalization, is typically very low quality with very high tracking weights,and will not be discussed in depth here.

Resonance control devices

Many different tweaks of this nature have been available through the years, from Tiptoes (which I love, primarily because of the way they look under components) to Magic dots, VPI bricks, Sorbothane this or that, isolation platforms, whatever. More on this later.

I have found that if I train my cat Pogo (who actually is an audiophile) to sit in a strategic place on the subwoofer it lowers the resonant frequency by 8hz.

 Problem is, he wants to switch places halfway through the record. Told him, "Only if he buys his own cat food".

Another Craigslist treasure

 Met a nice guy Eric tonight, drove to Greece. Moving to Tennessee, good luck to him!


  Pioneer Elite TZ-f700 speakers, huge! Just barely fit in my poor little car! A lot of fun, not state of the art, but a welcome addition nonetheless. Powered 12'' internal sub, I dare you to find it! Cyclops eyeball towards the top, you can aim these toward the listening position.


If you Google these, you will find mixed opinions. Supposedly $3500. a pair new.


Will not work with early american decor, and your wife/significant other will probably hate them! Sometimes this alone is worth the price of admission.


 Designed by Boothroyd Stuart, a well known British designer from Meridian.He had two pairs of these, only bought one. Had I known how well they would turn out I would have bought both.