Moving Coil Cartridges
tmartin2 -- Sat, 01/28/2006 - 18:48
I'm looking at the new Benz Ebony and Ruby 3. Is the extra money worth it? Other cartridges I should consider?
I'm looking at the new Benz Ebony and Ruby 3. Is the extra money worth it? Other cartridges I should consider?
I would also give a listen to the Shelter 90X, which, at $2700, is about the same price as the Benz Ruby. Though it isn't the very last word in transient speed or inner detail, the Shelter is such a sweet, rich, full-bodied transducer that it is very easy to forgive it its faults.
For a good deal more money, you should definitely listen to the Clearaudio Titanium, which has it all--transparency, detail, tone color, dynamics (superb on attacks and decays), soundstaging, and imaging. All told, it is the best moving coil I've heard--and I've heard a few.
When you say a good deal more money, what are we talking about?
Thanks.
Uh, twice the money! TheTitanium is $6k.
Your description of the shelter 90x reminds me of the sound of a Koetsu. Is this approximately right?
Thanks.
Approximately, but Koetsus are even richer in tone color, fuller in body and bloom, and darker in balance than the Shelter. They also have a kind of magic--a pop-out-book three dimensionality--that can be addictive.
If you want to explore Koetsus, try this link http://www.musicalsurroundings.com/koetsu.html.
I've heard through the grapevine that the new cartridge from Air Tight is supposed to be very good.
Has anyone had a chance to hear it?
This just in: Shelter is releasing two new cartridges, the 7000 and 9000, the former priced between the current 901 and 90X, and the latter priced higher than the 90X.
Stay tuned for further details.
Best,
Chris Martens
Audio Editor, The Perfect Vision
Senior Writer, The Absolute Sound
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
I did hear the new Air Tight moving coil and it is a killer!
I have never heard a better overall cart.
Jon Valin and I both have the Air Tight and will be reporting on it in the near future. Jim's experience echos that of many listeners.
What is the price of the Air Tight?
I was told by my local dealer a few months ago that the suggested retail is supposed to be under $5K. Compared to some of the other exotic carts I've heard, it may be a bargain, if any cart at that price is.
Dunno if the pricing has changed, because I stopped checking since that is far beyond my budget (I am wondering what I can legally sell to get one, but I don't think one can sell a kidney on eBay anymore).
Jim’s pricing on this is correct. Though t’aint cheap, I’ve had people say that the Air Tight competes with a $12k Koetsu. My Air Tight will be set up Wednesday—finally!— along with the Phantom, so I’ll report back shortly.
It is made by the same designer. If you check the website it indicates the similarities. I am attaching below the specs of the Sonic.
$4500 - $4900
Type
Low-impedance moving coil cartridge
Frequency response 10 - 50,000 Hz
Output voltage 0.5mV/1kHz
Internal impedance 1.8 Ohms
Loading 100 - 800 Ohms (specifically, about 400 Ohms is recommended)
Core material SH-µX
Magnet Neodynium #50
Stylus pressure 2 - 2.2g
Cantilever Super-duralmine dual structure
Stylus tip Semi-line contact (3µm x 30µm)
Channel balance within 0.5dB (1kHz)
Crosstalk more than 30dB (1kHz)
Terminals shiny rhodium-plated pins
Weight 9g
The Air Tight is very similar w. a boron cantilever & slightly more mass.
I own the Sonic and can attest to its musicality in the midrange. It is very dynamic and is very extended at the extremes. I prefered it to my Dynavector XV-1s but a friend of mine prefers the XV-1s. I have it setup on an Ikeda tonearm w. the TW Acustic table for your reference.
A little more information. It is close to a Koetsu in some ways but does not have the same magic as a Koetsu. Nothing I have heard has the same type of magic.
As for the Sonic, the ZYX Universe cartridge I demoed in my system recently had a different kind of magic and in my system was better all around than the Sonic and Dynavector. It is more money though. I demoed it for 2 weeks. I have since placed an order. I did not want to like it but it is very open & allows you to feel as part of the performance. The Sonic is a great Rock & Roll cartridge. I would love to compare al Stone Body Koetsu as I have owned the Urushi which lacked some dynamics in comparison.
I heard the Air Tight on an SME 30 using classical music (but not on my own system). I thought it was stunning and I've heard several of the higher end Koetsus on the same system (which were excellent, but priced a lot higher). I'd certainly be happy with any of them.
The soundstage of the Air Tight was the most rectangular I believe I've heard. Strings had bite and detail but were not at all strident. I've always loved the sound of massed strings on Koetsus and the sound of the Air Tight is different---however, the AT's strings have their own magic. The highs were airy and this sense of air combined with speed are a few of the keys to the AT's magic. Another one is the AT's phenomenal bass performance.
I could not find fault with the Air Tight, but, admittedly, I'll wasn't able to spend a lot of time with it. Consider these comments first impressions.
One cartridge that intrigues me, though it may or may not be in the class of some of the others in this discussion, is the new Rega Apheta moving coil (that's right--a moving coil from Rega!).
Rega contends that most conventional moving coils use a tie-wire suspension with movements of the stylus/cantilever assembly controlled by a foam rubber dampers.
According to Rega, the new Apheta is an innovative design that "contains neither a tie wire nor a foam damper" (though Rega doesn't say exactly how the Apheta's suspension does work). In any event, I'm curious to hear how Rega's new top-of-the-line model sounds.
Visit www.rega.co.uk for further details.
Best,
Chris Martens
TPV/TAS
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
I thought the London Reference was the "fastest" cartridge I'd heard until I heard the Air Tight PC-1. Folks, this thing is a breakthrough design, the best mc I've ever heard and by a large margin.
I agree with Jonathan.
The Air Tight PC-1 is incredible.
(Hope they don't jack up the price)
Jvalin,
What phono stage did you use w. the cartridge. I hear it makes a big difference.
dgad,
I used the ARC PH-7, which is now my reference phonostage, most of the time, with the PC-1 loaded down to 200 ohms at a tracking force of about 2.11 grams on both the Walker Proscenium Black Diamond and Kuzma Stabi XL/Air Line record players. The tonearms were set parallel to the record surface on both tables.
You may prefer loading the cartridge at about 500-1000 ohms, depending on how lively you prefer your sound.
I've also listened to the PC-1 through the Lamm LP2 Deluxe, my previous reference phonostage, which (because it uses a superb built-in step-up transformer) automatically loads the cartridge down to about 40 ohms.
JValin,
Thanks for your reply. I just looked up the PH7. The ARC PH7 has only limited gain for some of my very low output MC cartridges. Otherwise it would be a top contender. Would you use a SUT on the PH7? I have a feeling it wonderful sound is due to not using a SUT? Maybe I have it wrong. One of the things I have learned is that no cartridge can be considered without the matching phono stage. I am running at any time either 2-3 arms & phono stages to just make some fun out of this hobby. Looking for one more possibly hybrid phono stage.
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