Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: ADC (Audio Dynamics Corp) XLM Mrk II Phono Cartridge by werner.asche@gmx.de

Model:	XLM Mrk II
Category:	Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price:	$175.00
Description:	High Compliance Vintage Stereo Cartridge
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available

Review by werner.asche@gmx.de on February 26, 2008 at 08:53:17
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for the XLM Mrk II

I bought this item used on ebay with a used stylus in December 2006 because I owned one in the seventies. The price was low 10 â‚¬, which is aboout 12 US $ and the reason was simply : memory, as the ADC had been my first hifi pick up. Shortly after I managed to buy a NOS stylus XLM Mk III for the same price. I wondered what this system might sound like on my current equipment. I took care of proper mounting including capacity and started to listen. I really was astonished - the cartridge sounds simply great ! It's dynamic, it shows the complete stage and the instruments as well as voices sound clearly and natural. I didn't expect a bad system, because I knew it from the past, but it surpassed my expectations. As a result I had a problem : Where are styli for this cartridge avilable ? Via internet I found 2 vendors in the US for XLM Mk III and XLM Mk II improved styli. So now I have enough to last my lifetime. The styli are considerably cheap (XLM Mk II imp = 50 US $) at least cheaper than a replacement for my old MC system. The acoustical differences between MK II imp. and MK III are small, but due to the way of production - a whole diamond instead of a sapphire bonded diamond - I expect the Mk III-stylus to be able to last a little longer.

To describe the effect on me : This cartridge is "fun" to listen to and I'm going on enjoying.

Archibald :-)

Product Weakness:	High compliance pick up, only suitable for light weight tonearms
Product Strengths:	Please refer to review

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Receiver Tandberg TR 2075
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): None
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Turntable : Thorens TD 126 Mk III / TP 16 Mk III
Speakers: Cabasse Sloop M 4
Cables/Interconnects: Original Thorens and Cabasse, else Oehlbach N 4
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Rock, Jazz, Classic
Room Size (LxWxH): 7 m x 5 m x 2,5 m
Room Comments/Treatments: Living Room
Time Period/Length of Audition: since December 2006
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Receiver Tandberg TR 2075
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Turntable : Thorens TD 126 Mk III / TP 16 Mk III
Speakers:	Cabasse Sloop M 4
Cables/Interconnects:	Original Thorens and Cabasse, else Oehlbach N 4
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock, Jazz, Classic
Room Size (LxWxH):	7 m x 5 m x 2,5 m
Room Comments/Treatments:	Living Room
Time Period/Length of Audition:	since December 2006
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner