lini
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Post by lini on Mar 8, 2014 0:23:50 GMT
Hi guys, just curious: Do you (also) use some of your cartridges in non-stock form, e.g. upgraded with a higher quality needle (be that a better replacement needle type or a retipping job) or otherwise modded (like a nudified MC, for example)? One of my favourite Frankencart combinations, I call it "Incognito Black", consists of an Audio Technica AT120E body plus ATN152LP needle (with a square-shanked LinearContact nudie on beryllium cantilever) and works very nicely on the very light ULM arms (3rd gen. with easily swappable halfinch-mount headshells; I've always avoided the models with proprietary ULM mount (1st & 2nd gen.), although Dual actually made some otherwise very nice models during that era...) of my 505-4 and 455-1M (both black) - and also pretty nicely on the Thoren TD280II (also black). Alternatively I also use the AT120E body with the ATN150E or ATN132EP, but of course that's not quite as incognito respectively not quite as black.  And then I also sometimes use one of those three needle types in combination with an AT432EP/OCC body on the Technics SL-QD33. Next plan: Grab a new AT120E/II or AT100E - 'cause these have a generator variant with lower inductance (just like the AT150MLX, but in the lighter, regular body version), which could make a nice difference... Greetings from Munich! Manfred / lini |
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Mar 9, 2014 9:44:53 GMT
Never tried any Frankencarts. Wonder if you have heard any of those hot rodded AT95e's? Always wanted to get hold of one of those.
I have an Ortofon MC30 Super, it has two screws holding the sides of the cartridge body in place. I've always been tempted to try and remove them and use the cartridge nude so to speak. Never had the bottle but have read positive thoughts on this when others have had a bash using similar cartridges.
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jc
Fully Modded
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Post by jc on Mar 9, 2014 11:33:11 GMT
I only have experience of my own personal Lyra Lydian (MKI) that I had eons ago (the best vinyl replay I owned, Xerxes/HR100mcs/Lydian). Again there was talk of denuding it by removing the outer body.
I tried it, wasn't really sure there was any gain and popped the body back on, it just looked like an expensive accident about to happen.
Since then, of course, all the Lyra cartridges have been issued without said body! I was never able to afford any of the later models so went for an AT OC9MLII instead. Damn fine cartridge but not in Lyra country.
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lini
Been here a while!
Groanings from Han(g)over
Posts: 191
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Post by lini on Mar 10, 2014 0:12:17 GMT
Nigel: Would you mean the AT93/95E body with the hyperelliptical, VividLine or Shibata upgrade needles (probably all made by Jico)? No, I haven't yet had the opportunity to hear one myself - just read a lot of favourable comments. For myself I rather prefer needles with nude diamonds, though...
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 10, 2014 21:55:52 GMT
Are these the same as Frankenstiens?
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 10, 2014 22:00:31 GMT
I'd be frightened to use them...... I really don't want the denizens of the village marching toward my home with pitched forks chanting "burn the monster!"..........
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 10, 2014 22:13:35 GMT
I want to die a nice "natural" death...... burned alive at the stake is not my idea of a peaceful "exit"  |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 10, 2014 22:26:05 GMT
..................... I certainly don't want to be transported in one of Frank's "carts" when I croak...... "Franken Carts, we will dispose of your body, dig you up, and use parts to create a new you, composed of many other random body parts, from various donors yada yada..... "Frankencarts"? what the hell were they on when they came up with that name? More a case of......... Nope, I daren't say it or I may have to ban myself |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 10, 2014 22:28:36 GMT
....... or "cart" myself away......
I'll get my coat.
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lini
Been here a while!
Groanings from Han(g)over
Posts: 191
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Post by lini on Mar 10, 2014 23:12:50 GMT
Mike: *lol* Neat term, isn't it? Grinnings from Munich! Manfred / lini |
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Mar 11, 2014 21:16:48 GMT
Yes, they are the ones I was thinking of. Always wondered if they were much of an upgrade over the standard model. Nigel: Would you mean the AT93/95E body with the hyperelliptical, VividLine or Shibata upgrade needles (probably all made by Jico)? No, I haven't yet had the opportunity to hear one myself - just read a lot of favourable comments. For myself I rather prefer needles with nude diamonds, though... Greetings from Munich! Manfred / lini |
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Nigel
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Watching over Gotham City keeping us safe
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Post by Nigel on Mar 11, 2014 21:19:13 GMT
Cheers Chris. I will leave well alone. You've certainly experienced some top class gear. I only have experience of my own personal Lyra Lydian (MKI) that I had eons ago (the best vinyl replay I owned, Xerxes/HR100mcs/Lydian). Again there was talk of denuding it by removing the outer body. I tried it, wasn't really sure there was any gain and popped the body back on, it just looked like an expensive accident about to happen. Since then, of course, all the Lyra cartridges have been issued without said body! I was never able to afford any of the later models so went for an AT OC9MLII instead. Damn fine cartridge but not in Lyra country. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2014 21:56:32 GMT
Yes, they are the ones I was thinking of. Always wondered if they were much of an upgrade over the standard model. Nigel: Would you mean the AT93/95E body with the hyperelliptical, VividLine or Shibata upgrade needles (probably all made by Jico)? No, I haven't yet had the opportunity to hear one myself - just read a lot of favourable comments. For myself I rather prefer needles with nude diamonds, though... Greetings from Munich! Manfred / lini Nigel Yes they were a worthwhile upgrade over the standard model. I also played around with different types of mounting of the cartridge way back then as well.
Regards Alex
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Mar 12, 2014 21:44:56 GMT
Thanks Alex. I suspected they might be half decent.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2014 17:20:15 GMT
I'm reasonably certain I read some time ago that a cartridge body wears at the same rate as the stylus. So changing only the stylus would not mean an improvement. The magnets lose their flexibility according to the write up I read. I only ever take everything out of the headshell then and replace the entire item with something new.
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lini
Been here a while!
Groanings from Han(g)over
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Post by lini on Jan 14, 2015 4:31:05 GMT
rox: Then what you've read was pretty much nonsense - at least in case of MM carts and also many MIs, because, unless totally mistreated, there isn't anything in the bodies of these that could wear out.
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2015 20:00:47 GMT
Would Frankencarts be synonymous with what, say, Audio Note U.K. does with a Goldring 1042 (I hope that's the right one) to make up their (and mine) IQ series of phono cartridges? And, then they mod a Systemdek turntable and Rega arm to make an all Audio Note U.K. turntable system? The Rega RB-300 arm on my AN U.K. TT-1 table has Kondo silver litz internal and cartridge clip wiring, while the attached rca cabling is AN 13 strand silver litz wire...Frankenarm? We see many RB-300 and RB-200 adaptations around, modded to specs calculated by any number of TT makers...and private enthusiasts.
I found your design changes fascinating and bow to your expertise. I always found my "fumble fingers" to limit my interactions with such minute machines/phono cartridges. I have to laugh at how my fingers shake whilst "sweating out" the attaching of clip wires to cartridge pins. Especially with expensive wire. It all works out, but man, it ain't for a "Bull in a China Shop" guy like me.
Excellent info...j
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lini
Been here a while!
Groanings from Han(g)over
Posts: 191
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Post by lini on Jan 27, 2015 6:35:24 GMT
John: Yup, I guess one could call it that way, although a manufacturer would probably rather avoid to use the term "Frankencart".
Well, and swapping needles isn't difficult - at least in case of removable headshells and with only very few exceptions. One of those would be Ortofon's 3xx and 5x0(II)/VinylMaster family, as in case of these the needle/body interface is extremely tight and takes a surprising amount of well-controlled force to separate - nice for actual use of the cart, but in case of the 5x0(II)/VinylMasters I wouldn't like to have one of these mounted on an arm with fixed headshell.
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
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And then I also sometimes use one of those three needle types in combination with an AT432EP/OCC body on the Technics SL-QD33.
