Grado Cartridges and Stylus - Questions and Advice.

[JohnnyCashFan]

Just hit about 25 hours (and initial Cardas Test Record break in) on my Opus 3 and the ick of breaking in is starting to smooth out and bloom a little. Ummmmmmm.

 

[HiFi Guy]

So, after living with the Dynavector for a while, I’m back to the Gold3. The Dyna did some things better, the Grado does some things better. Neither are right or wrong, but I’ll say that once you are bitten by the Grado bug you may be incurable.

 

[HayesWeighsIn]

So, after living with the Dynavector for a while, I’m back to the Gold3. The Dyna did some things better, the Grado does some things better. Neither are right or wrong, but I’ll say that once you are bitten by the Grado bug you may be incurable.

Feel this in the low end department. When I’ve tried carts with a smoother top, I just always miss those Grado low frequencies.

 

[kvetcha]

Planning on spinning with the Statement Platinum 2 for another week or so before I swap back to the SoundSmith. Really enjoyed my time with it so far, and I definitely see what @HiFi Guy is getting at.

 

[JohnnyCashFan]

Feel this in the low end department. When I’ve tried carts with a smoother top, I just always miss those Grado low frequencies.

Agree 100% with what @HiFi Guy said. Grado lifer here, unless I win the Mega Millions (no relation to the lady that just did
A step up from the Opus3 when retip time comes might be in the cards.

 

[HayesWeighsIn]

@Joe Mac I know you’ve said the midrange has some extra magic in the Opus3, but how do you feel the top end compared to the 8MZ?

 

[Joe Mac]

@Joe Mac I know you’ve said the midrange has some extra magic in the Opus3, but how do you feel the top end compared to the 8MZ?

It’s better but not markedly. It handles it sonically very similarly to all grados but it’s perhaps a little bit more on point. That said I’m comparing to an 8mz in a Gold2, not a Gold3.

 

[HiFi Guy]

It’s better but not markedly. It handles it sonically very similarly to all grados but it’s perhaps a little bit more on point. That said I’m comparing to an 8mz in a Gold2, not a Gold3.

Looks like I need to spring for an 8MZ.

The Dyna had better clarity.

The Dyna had more top end. I’m not convinced it’s better though. Just more.

The Grado has that rock solid bottom though, and great mids.

 

[Joe Mac]

Looks like I need to spring for an 8MZ.

The Dyna had better clarity.

The Dyna had more top end. I’m not convinced it’s better though. Just more.

The Grado has that rock solid bottom though, and great mids.

I don’t know why but the Sonata keeps calling me...

Maybe it’s that I just like the name

I’m going to try out the AT MC for this year but maybe next year it’ll be the sonata...

 

[JohnnyCashFan]

I don’t know why but the Sonata keeps calling me...

Maybe it’s that I just like the name

I’m going to try out the AT MC for this year but maybe next year it’ll be the sonata...

I wonder what the exact differences the wood makes between the Maple Opus3 and Jarrah Sonata/Platinum

 

[HayesWeighsIn]

Looks like I need to spring for an 8MZ.

If you do and end up liking it, would still love to take the Gold3 stylus for a spin if you’re up for it.

 

[HiFi Guy]

If you do and end up liking it, would still love to take the Gold3 stylus for a spin if you’re up for it.

We can do that, no problem.

 

[JohnnyCashFan]

Anyone played with tilted back VTA slightly on there Grado's ? I have read about experimenting with on older Grado wood body carts (Platinum, Sonata). Also some have said trying slightly heavier tracking force than recommended range or is this playing with fire ?

 

[HiFi Guy]

Anyone played with tilted back VTA slightly on there Grado's ? I have read about experimenting with on older Grado wood body carts (Platinum, Sonata). Also some have said trying slightly heavier tracking force than recommended range or is this playing with fire ?

Grado recommend that the face of the cartridge be at 90 degrees to the record. This is how I’ve always set them up. If you go tail down, you’ll end up with more bass- not something I think a Grado needs.

As far as tracking force, I’d run a woody at the maximum specified. The Prestige series only specifies 1.5 grams. I run mine at 1.65 grams. It sounds and tracks better.

 

[Joe Mac]

Anyone played with tilted back VTA slightly on there Grado's ? I have read about experimenting with on older Grado wood body carts (Platinum, Sonata). Also some have said trying slightly heavier tracking force than recommended range or is this playing with fire ?

I run my opus at 2, which is .1 more than the upper recommended, after playing around between 1.8 and there and that’s where I really like it. I’ve had no ill effects.

I can’t adjust VTA on my table but tbh I wouldn’t mess with that personally.

 

[JohnnyCashFan]

I run my opus at 2, which is .1 more than the upper recommended, after playing around between 1.8 and there and that’s where I really like it. I’ve had no ill effects.

I can’t adjust VTA on my table but tbh I wouldn’t mess with that personally.

Nice, I'm going to tweak one night this week and see how it sounds here.

Some guys on tables without vta will use a shim

My Opus 3 today...

 

[Joe Mac]

Nice, I'm going to tweak one night this week and see how it sounds here.

Some guys on tables without vta will use a shim

My Opus 3 today...

View attachment 85575

Yeah I’m not using a shim to put my cartridge out of alignment lol. For a bigger cartridge maybe but I’m really not that fussed, there’s enough great carts out there that fit my arm within the need for that.

 

[CrazyDiamond84]

I run my opus at 2, which is .1 more than the upper recommended, after playing around between 1.8 and there and that’s where I really like it. I’ve had no ill effects.

I can’t adjust VTA on my table but tbh I wouldn’t mess with that personally.

I just came in here to ask you what you're tracking at. Going to start working on the install shortly.

 

[CrazyDiamond84]

All set, and sounding great! And yeah, those little wires are bastards. Going to be doing a lot of spinning tomorrow.

 

[JohnnyCashFan]

Hit 50 hours on my Opus3. Everything has settled in nicely: goog detail, air, separation, wide holograph stage, smooth-lush mids, any leanness in bass has filled in, perhaps just a little bit of graininess left but mostly smoothed out, background has gotten blacker. Quite fulfilling listening experience that will probbaly still get better by 100 hours. A little surprising how well a rocker the Opus3 is and a very good toe tapper. Probably something to to do with senergy on the vpi. EXTREMELY Happy!

On to interconnects, oooh boy