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Cartridge Comparison - with Needledrops

Ocean I'm not 100% sure but the files names sequence do not relate to the list sequence - they are to be announced Thursday

ie blind test
 
No. Cartridge A isn't a Denon 103. That list doesn't relate to the letters.

I'm happy to put up a file of your AT95E but I'm away in Italy from friday for 6 days so it'd need to be after then.
 
My choice is FHJ on Mozart

either H or J but guessing by the hint i'm unlikely to afford H & J so maybe F is within cost reach here

again they are all good with only C ruled out quickly
 
Haven't spent that long listening, but D, E & G for me, on the SRV track. E sounds a bit restrained in comparison to D and G is a different character, but I like it.
 
Finally got round to Eartha Kitt. My preference is for C this time. I liked the central voice the most, and it had a better relation to the instruments - both carving its own space and relating to them. B had good spacing and definition, and was superior in the bass (most were pretty bad), but I thought the voice was a bit too relaxed and gentle. This meant I got bored half way through. I'd thought B was best on the Mozart - perhaps I will go back and check. E was pretty lacklustre I thought. G not bad but a bit thin. F had rather different voicing which accentuated the treble. Voice on D was better, but no real drama.

I should say this was splitting hairs and not easy to see really strong differences. I wouldn't rule out coming to totally different conclusions if it were daytime and a cat was walking in the garden.
 
SRV now. This is strange because I like E on this one, which previously I have rejected. Can't believe how varying my responses are on the different tracks. E gets the bite of the guitar best for me, and has good definition, grip and all round balance, though at times I feel the low bass is slowing it down a bit. D has a massive bass hump, but is well defined. It rocks, but the voice is thin. B also has a bass hump, but this has good dynamics and generally rocks. A is thin and flat.

So that's E and B best, then D. A worst. (And C also poor - which I liked most on the Eartha Kitt?!?)

ADDENDUM - I missed H and J. Both contenders. H has very good control on the bass, good overall integration and biting guitar sound. An airier sound, without losing grip. Superior.
 
I just downloaded the Mozart H - did you have the channels the wrong way round on this?
Its very good though, in spite of some static. Superb in fact - the voices and the woodwind come out really well.
 
surprising how we concentrate on different things .. for me it was the voice & timbre (though I've only listened to the Eartha Kitt & Mozart )
 
Have Fun said:
surprising how we concentrate on different things .. for me it was the voice & timbre (though I've only listened to the Eartha Kitt & Mozart )
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For me also, voice and timbre are usually by far the most important things, but I found it difficult with these selections. Eartha Kitt does not have a voice with great richness of timbre, although it does have a lot of character. The sopranos in the Mozart have great quality, but the classical voice privileges purity above texture. I would love to hear this selection of carts with Coltrane's tenor, or Joanna Newsom's voice, for example - voices with richness, complexity and depth, their own quirks and a unique grain. Not that I'm not very grateful for this selection, of course.
 
Have Fun said:
despite the exercise being personal choice not many want to stick their neck out on blind tests
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To be fair, it is very time consuming, since there were a lot of options, and it does become confusing and a challenge to the memory. I think I might have been better following Guy's advice and testing them in groups of 3.

But come on fishes, get listening! Its such a rare opportunity.
 
I'm away from early tomorrow am & won't be back online til next thursday. Do people want the id's of these tonight or after I return? I don't mind either way.

I'm still expecting a couple more interesting cartridges to arrive but I could always do those later with some different music throwing in one or two from this group as a reference point.

I expect there may be more opinion once people know what's what. ;)


Incidentally the modern Ortofon included in this group is a Cadenza Bronze, not the Kontrapunkt B.
 
Have Fun said:
despite the exercise being personal choice not many want to stick their neck out on blind tests
Click to expand...

I've really enjoyed this one, though I have to admit I've found it very hard to form clear opinions, I think mainly due to the sheer scope. I'm liking the two new ones that went up, though it's well worth flipping H where the channels are accidentally reversed (doable in Audacity).

On the Eartha my favs are:

F: I really like this one, it's got a lovely warm and funky yet open and clear sound. Maybe not quite the cleanest tracker of the pack, but very good indeed. This is the one I'd buy by a fair distance.

D: Quite similar to F, but maybe a little better tracking at the expense of a little magic.

J: On this track I'm enjoying this one, though it is out on a limb on it's own being very warm and 'vintage' sounding. If I had to put money on identifying a cart, and do so entirely based upon internet reviews I'd say this one was an SPU or maybe even the M3D.

I had a go with the SRV, but found that hard work and struggled to form any firm opinion. I think I'll download another track now, I'm torn between the Mozart and the electronica. Maybe do both...

Tony.

PS I'm playing the files on a MacBook running Audacity via a pair of Sennheiser HD-600 cans.
 
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