A cartridge sound question

boonie

boonie

Active Member
Hey guys, I'm running a shure m75HE as my first cartridge (pretty new to decent vinyl setups) and generally I really enjoy the sound. I listen to a lot of krautrock/anologue synthesizer and experimental music and it sounds fine. However on some other albums (particurlay rock) I find I miss details that I know are there in the music. The end sax solo on Thunder Road, the searing guitar in "Heroes", the guitar solo on Sabbath Bloody Sabbath all are way back in the mix and either muddy or pretty much non-existant.
So my long-winded question is, would this be a characteristic of the cart? Either the rolled of nature of the 'warm' sound or just the limitations of the cart? Or could it be something with my set up?
And if it is the cart what are some suggestions of cart/manufacturer styles as an alternative where I could get this detail back? Is say an AT-95E or an Ortofon OM (maybe the digitrac hybrid) a good way to try a different sound or should I save together some money and move up to say something in the V15 range or the 440mla.
As always any advice is greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Luke.
 
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I am using a m75 with a cheap 3rd party stylus. Mine tip is .0003 x .0007 or so I don't have either LP you have.
But I find that the shure is a very forward sound cart, with a good stylus is should sound a lot like a V15 II. I think your stylus my be worn or it is not set up right. Who makes your replacement stylus anyway?
Also on some LP on good systems things will sound like they are back there.
 
I'm using the lp gear HE stylus and this is the second stylus I've had and they've both had the same lack of detail on certain songs. It's not even that those songs sound bad just little bits of the song are way back in the mix. On most albums I play the cart sounds fantastic.
Just thought this might be a characteristic of the cart and that a different cart might offset this on some albums.
Or maybe I need to give the receiver a bit of a deoxit?
 
I have a M75 and it is a more entry level stylus IMO. I actually only use it on more older, not so taken care of Thrifty store finds. I have 2 other Shure Cart/Stylus that I use for better listen and better taken care of,new records, the Shure M97xE which can be had from round the mod 50 to mid 60 price range and then I have the V15~Type IV with a JICO SAS stylus for the NM,pristine ,new records. These both are fine stylui and sound awesome.

IMO, I would do the upgrade.
 
:)

The JICO SAS N75 stylus should cure the problem - a much more advanced stylus than the N75HE. The resulting sound should be very similar to the V15-II cartridge with a JICO SAS stylus.

:)
 
I think I'd take the M75 with the JICO SAS over a v15-II. Oh, wait a minute, that's what I am doing. I'm currently running the M75 with an HE and it's a very good cartridge combo for average listening. Trying for those subtle details is though on an every-day cartridge like the M75.

If you really want that level of detail, I suggest an AT150MLX. The 440/MLa will get you part way there, but from your request to get at subtle detail, I don't think anything below a v15-III or IV with an SAS or the 150MLX will do what you want :scratch2:
 
A M75 came with my Thorens years ago, with a supposedly new stylus, and I didn't care for it at all. I think Broc has hit the nail on the head here, considering what you listen to, you should look at getting a good AT cartridge, the best you can afford. If you feel like you're missing detail, I have a feeling you'll be amazed at the difference.
 
boonie said:
I'm using the lp gear HE stylus and this is the second stylus I've had and they've both had the same lack of detail on certain songs. It's not even that those songs sound bad just little bits of the song are way back in the mix. On most albums I play the cart sounds fantastic.
Just thought this might be a characteristic of the cart and that a different cart might offset this on some albums.
Or maybe I need to give the receiver a bit of a deoxit?
Click to expand...

what are you comparing it to? you say certain songs have bit way back in the mix compared to what you're used to, what are you used to?

if you're used to the cd version or prerecorded cassette version then it's mastered differently and more likely than not that's the difference your hearing, a different engineer's take on things (mastering can make a huge different in balance between instruments).

just curious if that's what you meant. if not then it's likely a certain range of frequencies that is different somehow in your cartridge, or those phrases that are missing are slightly out of phase on your cartridge with that tonearm setup/angle compared to what you're used to hearing it on (out of phase can reduce level), or what the others have mentioned here already of course.

just trying to present a different, maybe obvious but not thought of yet, way of looking at this problem :-)

cheers,
Don
 
Thanks guys, appreciate all your responses.

Reckon it's a combination of 2 things - prolonged exposure to digital versions of music that has the details clear (but compressed) as dkelly suggested and coming up against the limitations of the M75.
I really enjoy the 'sound' of the Shure and so I think I will try to get my hands on one of the V15 range and move up the ladder a bit. Can't ever hurt to have more cartridges right? :D
Thanks again for everyone's input. :thmbsp:
Cheers,
Luke
 
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