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I need catridge recommendations for my Nottingham Spacedeck with Ace Space arm. I don't have a phono pre yet, but I'm probably looking at MC. Any suggestions would be appreciated. $500-1500 range (or less is fine :P). Amp is Art Audio Jota and speakers are Merlin VSM.
Follow Ups:
I don't have nearly the amount of vinyl knowledge as most of the contributors here, but finally I am spinning all of my records just fine with this combo. I can't say that about my last set up which was a VPI HW19mk2 - Souther SLA linear arm, and Dynavector 17D2. I was always fiddling around with that wondering if it was right or wrong.I don't worry about test records or audiophile material any more. I just play records and get into the music.
Hope that makes sense.
I think that the most important issue is to match the cartridge with your arm and your phono preamp.
I donīt know your phono preamp nor the ace-space arm.
I like lush mids with great armonic richness and top to bottom extension, lively but not on your face.Iīve had the spacedeck (now upgraded to hyperspace)with different arms and phono stages.
My preamps those days were EAR 861 (similar to 834P) and Acoustech PH1.
Cartriges were Sumiko blackbird, Clearaudio Virtuoso wood, Shelter 901, Music Maker III and Denon 103R
Tonearms: hadcock 242, Rega RB600 w/incognito and Michel, and OL Illustrious.That said, my experience is:
Sumiko blackbird: great bass, ambience, a bit cold
Clearaudio Virtuoso wood: homogeneus and robust sound, sound like cold hifi.
Shelter 901: the best audiophile sound, a bit cold on mids, spectacular sound
Music Maker III: robust and musical mids, texture, drama, just a bit sharp on top end, with some sibilance problem on certain preamps.
Denon 103R: nothing new to say, I donīt think it will fit the acespace arm, too high compliance.A friend with hyperspace and ace-space likes the Shelter 901, though he feels that it needs a very high mass arm.
Personally Iīd go for a Music Maker III if you prefer music rather than ultimate audiophile sound. As you see, I donīt like cold cartridges
_____________________________________I am from Galicia, so if you find me in a staircase, you wonīt know whether I go up or down ...
I am using a ZYX Airy R1000 3S-SB now. Before I had a Zyx Fuji. Both are great cartridges. But you have to change the little weight on the anti-skate needle. The standard is some 1.15 grams I did put a 3 gram weight on it. Speaking of anti-skate weight :Brad, thanks for the info regarding additional weight. I just solved my anti skate 'problem'.;)
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AvianArt
Glad that the info was useful...I struggled a long time with this issue, until I finally called Tom Fletcher and asked him about it. He was using a Helikon at the time and stated that he had to add the additional weight...
Yeah, I know the feeling. I am still struggling. My Zyx is 9 gr light (Cart, 5 gr plus 4 gr Silver base) . But I am still not able to track the last 3 tracks on the HFNR without distortions. I am already thinking of exchanging my Ace Space Arm.
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AvianArt
They do not track as well, as, for example, the Benz Micro L2 in teh Spacearm.
I have had my spacedeck/arm combo for a couple of years. I have a feeling that the spacearm has a problem with some cartridges as it is on the short side and relatively light. I put a Stanton 881 MM cartridge on the spacearm and did not have any anti-skate or tracking problems what so ever.Regardless, my set-up sounds pretty darn good, even if it can't track the last couple of tracks of the HFNR. Although, I have been also thinking about replacing the spacearm...primarily because of the tracking/anti-skate issue. Thinking about a Graham, VPI, or SME. But getting the new tonearm mount might make this prohibitive...
Same thoughts here. And getting the 2 grand for a used SME is another issue. The wife-factor.;) I had a Denon DL-103 on it before without any tracking problems. But the Zyx is just in another league, sound and price wise. I actually have no problems when I listen to the music, except in the 1820. There are some distortions on the end. I did somewhere read that the Spacedeck would take the SME without mods , but I can't remember where.
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AvianArt
I guess if it works, then don't fix it. But it is still unsetteling, expecially given the cost of the equipment involved.Cheers
P.S., nice prints....
I've been using a Clearaudio virtuoso wood with my Spacedeck and 12" arm.. it sounds like hi-fi, accurate top to bottom.. but it's a bit dry and cd-like and lacks that certain "magic" I've heard with MC carts. I'd go for a Shelter 501 if you have a MC capable phono pre. I believe Tom Fletcher has given the nod to Shelter as a good match for his gear.
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I had a Lyra Lydian B for a couple of years, but recently upgraded to a Helikon using an Ayre phono stage. Amazing sound.....The Lyra stylus shape presents a bit of drag, so it is sometimes necessary to add additional weight to the anti-skate mechanism (as recommended by Tom Fletcher). I would suppose that Lyra's Dorian or Argo cartidges would work.
I have been using a Clearaudio Virtuosso Wood cartridge (MM) into an EAR 834p phono stage with my Spacedeck for about 6 months now and have been reasonably happy. I have done a lot of fiddling with VTA and cartidge alignment and seem to have a very well balanced sound from top to bottom.
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