What Cartridge(s) Is Everyone Using

[PeterA]

@iaxel is right, DST or any type A headshell cannot be mounted directly on a SME arm. The adapter you’re using only solves the pin orientation problem but doesn’t solve the much more important length problem. SME headshells are considered universal and longer compared to Ortofon, EMT, DST type A headshells. You need a proper adaptor. Just like the one in the picture below
View attachment 158769
And the headshell should look like this:
View attachment 158770
View attachment 158771

I understand your point. I tried one of these longer metal adaptors and prefer the tiny disk. I provides a tighter fit and connection with the tonearm collar. The two point alignment jig I use works very well and I do not hear distortion based on the shorter length. I know a guy who reoriented the pins in his SME 3012R by modifying the arm, so his length is shorter too because there is no adaptor at all. The metal adaptor also adds considerable weight to the end of the arm and with the already heavy cartridge, it can cause a problem with the counterweights being very far back and away from the pivot point at the very end of the arm stub.

What is your concern about the shorter length? Are you suggesting that the cartridge can not be properly aligned in an SME 3012R tonearm because of length?

 

[mtemur]

What is your concern about the shorter length? Are you suggesting that the cartridge can not be properly aligned in an SME 3012R tonearm because of length?

Exactly. The cartridge cannot be adjusted correctly without the adaptor I shared.

By omitting it, you’re altering the geometry of the SME 3012R arm—specifically the effective length, offset angle, and overhang. Even if you shorten the pivot-to-spindle (P2S) distance to achieve the required overhang and effective length, you still won’t be able to achieve the correct offset angle.

That said, the issue may not be too problematic in practice, since the DST uses a spherical stylus. A spherical stylus is less sensitive to alignment errors, but that’s also because it cannot fully extract the information in the groove, even when alignment is optimized.

 

[PeterA]

Exactly. The cartridge cannot be adjusted correctly without the adaptor I shared.

By omitting it, you’re altering the geometry of the SME 3012R arm—specifically the effective length, offset angle, and overhang. Even if you shorten the pivot-to-spindle (P2S) distance to achieve the required overhang and effective length, you still won’t be able to achieve the correct offset angle.

That said, the issue may not be too problematic in practice, since the DST uses a spherical stylus. A spherical stylus is less sensitive to alignment errors, but that’s also because it cannot fully extract the information in the groove, even when alignment is optimized.

I understand. Thank you for the clarification. The adapter increases the length by X amount over a standard cartridge in the SME headshell as seen in the photograph. The tiny disc shortens the length by about 3X. Neither is the same as my other cartridges in the SME headshell. There seems to be quite a variation in stylist to pivot lengths between my various cartridges. In the end, I find the highest amount of resolution or information from the grooves is being extracted from the DST cartridge in my system.

You do give me something to think about. Thank you.

 

[McDee275]

Here you can see my Wood A plus Ortofon APJ-1 adaptor on a Schick 9,6" tonearm




and here the same cartridge on a 12" GrooveMaster III, made by order for the SPU A cartridges




I would advise, in case the tonearm is not made to fit a SPU A, use the Ortofon ADJ-1 adapter only. Do not try and fiddle around with moving your tonearm back, forth, sideways or wherever. It will not fit correctly.

Be aware that any stories/rumors that the extra weight added by the adaptor or that the surplus on more elect. changeovers worsening the sound quality are not true. If your tonearm cannot balance the extra weight of the adaptor you use, you have the wrong arm for a SPU anyway. And your stereo system has already so many electrical changeovers that a clean SPU adaptor will not corrupt your sound at all.

 

[gleeds]

Hi Gary,
Wondering if you could tell us what the sonic nature or anything that you would share, is of the Goldenberg Maestro? It’s an interesting and very attractive looking cartridge that doesn’t have much if anything written about it.
Bill

Bill, I really like the Goldenburg. It's heavy at 20 grams, but otherwise an under-the-radar all-around performer and a bargain at the price.

 

[tima]

Currently enjoying my Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue. I had my Aidas Mammoth Mk. 2 mounted for a while but I’ve struggled to get it sounding as good as it should. May need to send it in to Aidas for a checkup. As for the Etsuro, it’s a splendid, balanced presentation with great dynamics and a surprisingly full bass. Love it to bits.

I found the Aidas Mammoth Gold 2 was much better when I switched it from a 4Point to an SME 3012R. I really like AMG.

 

[Tangram]

I found the Aidas Mammoth Gold 2 was much better when I switched it from a 4Point to an SME 3012R. I really like AMG.

“Much better”. Cool.

 

[Lynnot]

I like the Ortofon sound in my system

 

[bonzo75]

I got this update from the owner of a system I had visited before the pandemic. You guys need to keep up

TT 1. VDH Grand Cru Elite, Jan Allarets Finish Gold, Airtight supreme

TT 2 Dava Ref, Fuuga, Adio Tech art 1000, Ortofon Anna Diamond

TT3 Lyra Etna SL, Etsuro Bordeau, X-quisite ST

TT 4 VDH Master, Lyra Atlas, Allnic Amber, Strain Guage with Rens Heinis unit rebuild

TT 5 VDH Master High gain, Grado statement 2, AS Paladian, Transfiguration D

TT 6 VDH Grand Cru, Airtight Opus, Kondo IO-M

he makes his own 14 inch arms.

Zero Distortion: Allnic, Aesthetix, Magic Q7 mk2, Alieno, loads of carts, Vyger, Kodo Beat

A massive room houses Magico Q7 mk2 with a stack of 6 REL subs driven by Alieno OTL (I have previously heard the Alieno with the M3 and compared it to Dagostino with a Feickert Firebird, but will wait to write more on details as I will get a further compare of the amps with that owner’s Techdas...

www.whatsbestforum.com

 

[DasguteOhr]

I like the Ortofon sound in my system

View attachment 158837

I like the first windfield much more then 10years later ti version.congrats

 

[Massimo66]

Ho ricevuto questo aggiornamento dal proprietario di un impianto che avevo visitato prima della pandemia. Ragazzi, dovete tenervi aggiornati.

TT 1. VDH Grand Cru Elite, Jan Allarets Finish Gold, Airtight supreme

TT 2 Dava Ref, Fuuga, Adio Tech art 1000, Ortofon Anna Diamond

TT3 Lyra Etna SL, Etsuro Bordeau, X-quisite ST

TT 4 VDH Master, Lyra Atlas, Allnic Amber, estensimetro con ricostruzione dell'unità Rens Heinis

TT 5 VDH Master High gain, Grado statement 2, AS Paladian, Trasfigurazione D

TT 6 VDH Grand Cru, Airtight Opus, Kondo IO-M

si costruisce da solo le braccia da 14 pollici.

Zero Distortion: Allnic, Aesthetix, Magic Q7 mk2, Alieno, loads of carts, Vyger, Kodo Beat

A massive room houses Magico Q7 mk2 with a stack of 6 REL subs driven by Alieno OTL (I have previously heard the Alieno with the M3 and compared it to Dagostino with a Feickert Firebird, but will wait to write more on details as I will get a further compare of the amps with that owner’s Techdas...

www.whatsbestforum.com

Incredible collection. Sometimes a star falls and turns into a trail of bright comets. It almost seems like every star in the night has been embedded in your friend's tonearms.

 

[tony22]

I like the first windfield much more then 10years later ti version

Interesting. I’m curious as to why.

 

[Lagonda]

I got this update from the owner of a system I had visited before the pandemic. You guys need to keep up

TT 1. VDH Grand Cru Elite, Jan Allarets Finish Gold, Airtight supreme

TT 2 Dava Ref, Fuuga, Adio Tech art 1000, Ortofon Anna Diamond

TT3 Lyra Etna SL, Etsuro Bordeau, X-quisite ST

TT 4 VDH Master, Lyra Atlas, Allnic Amber, Strain Guage with Rens Heinis unit rebuild

TT 5 VDH Master High gain, Grado statement 2, AS Paladian, Transfiguration D

TT 6 VDH Grand Cru, Airtight Opus, Kondo IO-M

he makes his own 14 inch arms.

Zero Distortion: Allnic, Aesthetix, Magic Q7 mk2, Alieno, loads of carts, Vyger, Kodo Beat

A massive room houses Magico Q7 mk2 with a stack of 6 REL subs driven by Alieno OTL (I have previously heard the Alieno with the M3 and compared it to Dagostino with a Feickert Firebird, but will wait to write more on details as I will get a further compare of the amps with that owner’s Techdas...

www.whatsbestforum.com

And VDH cartridges on most of his turntables, good taste !

 

[bonzo75]

And VDH cartridges on most of his turntables, good taste !

Yes but the Dava is better. Not to say that VDH does not make the carts anymore, his son does. But hey, like you said on the other thread today, we come here to tell others how to listen

And to try master, master sig, GC, GC elite

 

[greenacres]

My first post as a relatively new member. I still haven't dug into the protocol for posting a system. Anyway, I'm using a Goldfinger V2 on my Walker Proscenium. I find it superlative with the high horizontal mass linear tracker. Hope one day to hear an Etsuro gold on this rig.

 

[bonzo75]

My first post as a relatively new member. I still haven't dug into the protocol for posting a system. Anyway, I'm using a Goldfinger V2 on my Walker Proscenium. I find it superlative with the high horizontal mass linear tracker. Hope one day to hear an Etsuro gold on this rig.

You should try the red sparrow it works great on most alts

 

[thekong]

I like the first windfield much more then 10years later ti version.congrats

I also like the A90 much more than the A95!

 

[DasguteOhr]

I also like the A90 much more than the A95!

They all have the same cantilever + diamond combination(per winfield+ A series). At some point, the homogeneity no longer worked; it always tipped over into the analytical. Whether this has something to do with the high titanium content of the housing, I have no idea; it's pure speculation.
The Old Winfield have housing like Valencia, Venice, and Vienna, which clearly lean toward the musical direction of SPU. My favorite series.

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

how do you separate the old Winfield from the new?

 

[DasguteOhr]

how do you separate the old Winfield from the new?

First of all, the TI is more dynamic and brings out more detail, but it lacks sweetness in the midrange and body in the lower midrange and upper bass. The old one is more emotional. I also have other titanium body cartridges, the ART 1 Audiotechnica & Lyra Titan. 10 years ago, I thought the sound was great; it blew your mind with its resolution and dynamics. It's probably just me; these days I prefer cartridges that take me emotionally on a journey through the music. I think if your system has a richer, warmer tonality, buying the TI could be a really good synergy.