Hello all,
I am calling on the help of those who were alive when record players were in their glory. I have a JVC QL-A2 turntable (direct drive model). Unfortunately, it seems that my sisters' friends are unaware of the fact that you can not touch hi-fi if you are going to break it. I'm assuming they broke the stylus while figuring out how to use my Sansui receiver. Such unguided children.
The reason why I am not showing much anger is that it is my excuse to anty up for something like a Grado cartridge. The current cartridge is an AT125LC, it is held in by two nut and bolt jobs on either side. It is a stereo cartridge.
I found this on the internet
"The technical specification of the AT125LC are : Frequency response: 10Hz~28KHz. Output @ 5cm/s: 5mV. Tracking force: 1 to 1,8 grams. Tracking ability: 70 µm @ center value VTF, 80 µm at upper value VTF. Tracking angle: 20°. Channel separation: 29dB @ 1KHz, 20 @ 10KHz. Channel balance: +-1dB @ 1KHz. Stylus Tip: Linear Contact. Stylus Construction: Titanium Bonded. cantilever: Tapered Tube. Load: 47k ohms. Recommended Capaistance: 100 - 200 pF. Cartridge weight: 6,5 grams."
Can I just use any cartridge from Grado? I have seen many Gold cartridges on ebay for about 50 CDN.
I am calling on the help of those who were alive when record players were in their glory. I have a JVC QL-A2 turntable (direct drive model). Unfortunately, it seems that my sisters' friends are unaware of the fact that you can not touch hi-fi if you are going to break it. I'm assuming they broke the stylus while figuring out how to use my Sansui receiver. Such unguided children.
The reason why I am not showing much anger is that it is my excuse to anty up for something like a Grado cartridge. The current cartridge is an AT125LC, it is held in by two nut and bolt jobs on either side. It is a stereo cartridge.
I found this on the internet
"The technical specification of the AT125LC are : Frequency response: 10Hz~28KHz. Output @ 5cm/s: 5mV. Tracking force: 1 to 1,8 grams. Tracking ability: 70 µm @ center value VTF, 80 µm at upper value VTF. Tracking angle: 20°. Channel separation: 29dB @ 1KHz, 20 @ 10KHz. Channel balance: +-1dB @ 1KHz. Stylus Tip: Linear Contact. Stylus Construction: Titanium Bonded. cantilever: Tapered Tube. Load: 47k ohms. Recommended Capaistance: 100 - 200 pF. Cartridge weight: 6,5 grams."
Can I just use any cartridge from Grado? I have seen many Gold cartridges on ebay for about 50 CDN.
Sounds like you have have a standard cartridge mount and have countless options on what cartridge will fit.
Suggest you post this in Analog 😱 instead of Loudspeakers 😀 to get better recommendation on where and what to buy and how much to pay.
Suggest you post this in Analog 😱 instead of Loudspeakers 😀 to get better recommendation on where and what to buy and how much to pay.
Old turntable geek
This looks like an Audio Technica moving magnet cartridge.
If it worked in your system, you need a 'similar' cartridge to replace it.
Cartridges these days come in quite a few 'flavors' so you need to be a little careful.
The normal mounting options are 'P' mount, and everything else (oversimplification). Your description is NOT a 'P' mount.
The next consideration is cartridge output. Some cartridges put out very little signal (moving coil, for example). Unless you obtain a low-noise preamp suitable, these won't work well.
Your old unit was a 'moving magnet' flux design. This type put out the most common output voltage and impedance.
You are in luck, the vast majority of current cartridges will work fine in your application. Be careful of exotic units. With some 'non-nerd' people operating the system, you might want to go with a quality 'pro' cartridge. They are built both more robust and have easily replaced styli. Even a slightly damaged stylus (diamond tipped needle) will permanently ruin any disks played with it.
When you buy the cartridge, get at least one replacement stylus from the same manufacturer.
This looks like an Audio Technica moving magnet cartridge.
If it worked in your system, you need a 'similar' cartridge to replace it.
Cartridges these days come in quite a few 'flavors' so you need to be a little careful.
The normal mounting options are 'P' mount, and everything else (oversimplification). Your description is NOT a 'P' mount.
The next consideration is cartridge output. Some cartridges put out very little signal (moving coil, for example). Unless you obtain a low-noise preamp suitable, these won't work well.
Your old unit was a 'moving magnet' flux design. This type put out the most common output voltage and impedance.
You are in luck, the vast majority of current cartridges will work fine in your application. Be careful of exotic units. With some 'non-nerd' people operating the system, you might want to go with a quality 'pro' cartridge. They are built both more robust and have easily replaced styli. Even a slightly damaged stylus (diamond tipped needle) will permanently ruin any disks played with it.
When you buy the cartridge, get at least one replacement stylus from the same manufacturer.
So, since you have the standard 2 bolt attachment you are in luck- That's a lot better than Pmount IF you spend the time installing aligning the car correctly. The Grado should work fine.
IMHO buying an extra stylus often doesn't pay off , because you can get the cart discounted and usually need to get the stylus from the manufacturer, so the stylus usually ends up costing at least 80% of the cartridge cost. Also- a more subtle point- some of the internals of the cart age also -some of the rubber suspension and damping can get stiffer, so an old cartt with a new syylus isn't the same thing as an all new cart.
Buying used seems risky, but I guess you could get one with "low miles if you can trust the seller.. I don't trust people that much I guess- I'd rather get a new Grado from Audio Advisor or The Needle Doctor
IMHO buying an extra stylus often doesn't pay off , because you can get the cart discounted and usually need to get the stylus from the manufacturer, so the stylus usually ends up costing at least 80% of the cartridge cost. Also- a more subtle point- some of the internals of the cart age also -some of the rubber suspension and damping can get stiffer, so an old cartt with a new syylus isn't the same thing as an all new cart.
Buying used seems risky, but I guess you could get one with "low miles if you can trust the seller.. I don't trust people that much I guess- I'd rather get a new Grado from Audio Advisor or The Needle Doctor
Yeah, I understand what you mean about buying used. I really couldn't find a dealer around where I live. I'll look up the companies that you named.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I wouldn't spend more than half of what that turntable is worth on Ebay on a new cartridge. Even the most inexpensive Grado will be a huge improvement. BTW, don't be allarmed if you witness the infamous Grado Shimmy.
Because of the way the cantalevier is suspended in a Grado, if there is any offset in the hole in the record, or significant wow in the turntable, or most commonly, eccentricity or flutter in the grooves of the record itself, it can set up a vibration that gets transmitted to the body of the cartridge. You've driven behind kids in Hondas that have been lowered, with really stiff springs and worn out shock absorbers (dampers in UK). You get the picture. It looks really frightening but I have never heard it coming out of the loudspeakers. I guess its a good test of how carefully the master disk was cut on the lathe.
See comment at end of this link I found:
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/arsclist/2003/07/msg00081.html
See comment at end of this link I found:
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/arsclist/2003/07/msg00081.html
I sugggest you buy a Grado from these guys(link below), all prices are in CAD$ and are very competitive, their shipping is very fast and they are very friendly.
I use several grados from the prestige line, Black, Silver and Gold on my back up tables. Great bang for the buck (I think the black is only $59cad) and they sound surprisingly good on cheap tables,even the plastic fantastic kind 😉.
http://takefiveaudio.com/purchase_grado_cartridges_and_headphones_online.htm
I use several grados from the prestige line, Black, Silver and Gold on my back up tables. Great bang for the buck (I think the black is only $59cad) and they sound surprisingly good on cheap tables,even the plastic fantastic kind 😉.
http://takefiveaudio.com/purchase_grado_cartridges_and_headphones_online.htm
Hi,
If I may say so, MM carts hardly have anything in them that could age bar the stylus tip...
MCs are a different story altogether but then you can't buy a replacement stylus for them anyway.
Cheers,😉
If I may say so, MM carts hardly have anything in them that could age bar the stylus tip...
MCs are a different story altogether but then you can't buy a replacement stylus for them anyway.
Cheers,😉
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