The Technics Turntable Fan Club - Questions, Advice, Discussion

I haven't used many different carts so my opinion is that. I gotta say this 103R sets the bar pretty high. Warm, neutral and accurate. Main reason I haven't rushed to a new TT until the other gear was situated.
You aren’t going to regret the G at all. Congratulations! This morning it’s been all mono- Ray Charles and The Kinks so far.
 
Yeah your feedback has resonated.

What do you think about getting the DL-103R on this tonearm. I need a lot of weight.
Best way to accomplish? Or is it just a bad match?

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It’s a great cartridge on the right arm. It’s my opinion that the G is not the right arm. Remember the 103 and 103R were designed for high mass broadcast arms.

You can get a heavier headshell to add mass, but it’s my opinion that you’ll never get it right. In this particular case, tracking and bass response will suffer, In effect, you’ll be undermining some of the strengths of the G.

The 103R is an outlier- a low compliance higher than average tracking force cartridge with a conical stylus. Get away from that and your choices skyrocket. If you still want a Denon, the 301 is a perfect fit.

As I mentioned to @AnthonyI in a DM, check Thakker in Germany. The 1/1 exchange rate between the Euro and the US dollar has created some real values.
 
It’s a great cartridge on the right arm. It’s my opinion that the G is not the right arm. Remember the 103 and 103R were designed for high mass broadcast arms.

You can get a heavier headshell to add mass, but it’s my opinion that you’ll never get it right. In this particular case, tracking and bass response will suffer, In effect, you’ll be undermining some of the strengths of the G.

The 103R is an outlier- a low compliance higher than average tracking force cartridge with a conical stylus. Get away from that and your choices skyrocket. If you still want a Denon, the 301 is a perfect fit.

As I mentioned to @AnthonyI in a DM, check Thakker in Germany. The 1/1 exchange rate between the Euro and the US dollar has created some real values.
Yeah I am coming to that realization. Plus I probably have over 500-600 hours on the 103R. I'll retip it at some point and keep it on the current TT as a secondary player.

So now we are cart shopping... AT or Hana?

AT-OC9XML or SL and Shibata SL look like some good candidates.

What are you running for ST cart?
 
Yeah I am coming to that realization. Plus I probably have over 500-600 hours on the 103R. I'll retip it at some point and keep it on the current TT as a secondary player.

So now we are cart shopping... AT or Hana?

AT-OC9XML or SL and Shibata SL look like some good candidates.

What are you running for ST cart?
I’d go A/T- and I’ve heard the Hanas.

But not that A/T. I’d get this one for about $200 off the normal price. This one is a steal.


I’m running a modified Grado Gold3 with a Boron Cantilever and MicroRidge stylus.
 
I’d go A/T- and I’ve heard the Hanas.

But not that A/T. I’d get this one for about $200 off the normal price. This one is a steal.


I’m running a modified Grado Gold3 with a Boron Cantilever and MicroRidge stylus.
Backordered. I'll look on fleabay
 
Regular price is $599 now, so the back order is worth the wait. If it isn’t to you, get the one you were looking at.
If the backorder quoted time of 2-4 wks is accurate, I could wait.
I just am not sure if it's correct in today's crazy supply chain.
 
I’d go A/T- and I’ve heard the Hanas.

But not that A/T. I’d get this one for about $200 off the normal price. This one is a steal.


I’m running a modified Grado Gold3 with a Boron Cantilever and MicroRidge stylus.
Ok lucked out with a very slightly used AT33PTG/2 off Audiomart for a nice price (sightly less than the JP).
I feel pretty good about they buy because the guy was a nerdy enough audiophile to send pic of the stylus under a microscope.

Big relief to have a really high compliance cart @40 and no additional parts required to get the tonearm right.
4036667-13ff223b-audio-technica-at33ptgii-mc-phono-cartridge.jpg
 
This G tonearm mass is fairly elusive even from Technics.
Wonder why?

I'm barely in the window of good but in spec nonetheless.
Head Shell Weight 7.6g + Cart weight 6.9g= 14.5g

Technics Applicable Cartridge Weight Range (Without the auxiliary weight) 14.3 to 20.7 g (including the head shell)
 
This G tonearm mass is fairly elusive even from Technics.
Wonder why?

I'm barely in the window of good but in spec nonetheless.
Head Shell Weight 7.6g + Cart weight 6.9g= 14.5g

Technics Applicable Cartridge Weight Range (Without the auxiliary weight) 14.3 to 20.7 g (including the head shell)
You’ll be fine. My Grado cartridges don’t hit the minimum- 7.6g + Cart weight 5.5 g= 13.1g

Don’t forget the weight of the mounting hardware. I also upgraded the headshell wires, so my headshell weighs slightly more than stock.

With hardware and upgraded wires, I still doubt I hit the minimum. Sounds stunning regardless.
 
You’ll be fine. My cartridges don’t hit the minimum- 7.6g + Cart weight 5.5 g= 13.1g

Don’t forget the weight of the mounting hardware. I also upgraded the headshell wires, so my headshell weighs slightly more than stock.

With hardware and upgraded wires, I still doubt I hit the minimum. Sounds stunning regardless.
What's a g between friends. Right?
 
Sorry if I’m late to the game, but how is that modified Grado working out?
I’ve got 20-25 hours on both the mono and stereo. I’m stunned. I’ve owned cartridges that now sell for more than a grand. The modded Grados are better, and not by a little bit.

I have 2 more donors now, and will have a couple more styli done soon.
 
Got the G on the cabinet. It's a chunk!
It's really nice to be able to level the TT. It really annoyed me visually on the budget Denon.

Not sure how common this feature is with other tables but these feet have a nice spring built in to them.

I am still chuckling about a USB slot for firmware updates. Ha! FW never will happen from Technics on these but anything is possible I guess

Cart gets here tomorrow and Friday night will be great!

Upon my cancelation, Crutchfield intercepted the UPS shipment with AQ cables so I won't be able to give them a run. Probably for the best🤑
20220908_154551.jpg
 
You’ll be fine. My Grado cartridges don’t hit the minimum- 7.6g + Cart weight 5.5 g= 13.1g

Don’t forget the weight of the mounting hardware. I also upgraded the headshell wires, so my headshell weighs slightly more than stock.

With hardware and upgraded wires, I still doubt I hit the minimum. Sounds stunning regardless.
Maybe someone smart here can help me out.
Using no auxiliary weights on tone arm per Technics spec.
I balance the tonearm as correctly as I can get in the pic.
Return it to the arm clamp.
Carefully set dial to zero.
Move the tracking and antiskate to 2g and this arm immediately swings back toward the resting bracket with the 2G settings.

I must be doing something wrong but can't figure it out.

Any thoughts?

20220912_193017.jpg
 
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