Thoughts on GAS Sleeping Beauty Cartridge?

Fishead

Fishead

Gone fishin' Steada just wishin'
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Have a line on one of these, the Shibata version, and wondered if anyone has had experience with one? It is NOS and the seller claims it tested perfect, suspension and all.

How would this compare against the Sumiko Blackbird and Benz Glider I've been considering?

Thanks.
 
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perhaps as good as or better, depending on the prices of the other carts. the glider being better than the b'bird.
 
Appreciate your thoughts. Priced at $600, about half the Glider and nearly also the Blackbird.....hmmmm.....

If you were to compare the sound of it to the Glider, for instance, how might you describe it? I'm looking for something that is warm but not overdone, leaving a distinct soundstage where individual instruments are apparent, but not disengaged from the whole. I would also like it to have a very defined, airy high end without being overly-critical while quiet in the grooves. Guess I just described my and likely a lot of others' ideal cartridge. I've never owned a Glider but heard one a few years ago that was very much like what I've described. Had an MC20E-2 that I thought was very close, so it makes sense the farther up the line you go the better it gets. Cleaning lady got that one with one swipe of the lint brush....my bad, didn't replace the cartridge cover after using.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
 
$600!!!

That's outragous. A passel of those cartridges were all over the net about a year ago, and he selling price was $200. No way I would be in with that kind of money.

These cartridges were built by Coral in the 80's. The Adcom Crosscoil sare basically the same cartridge. They sound decent, but are not terribly refined sounding. I would run from that deal.

Regards
Mister Pig

EDIT: Those were for the SAE cartridges. Although the Sleeping Beauty is still reported to be built by Coral. They go for around $200 in the used market today. I still think $600 is an outrageous price.
 
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I have three Sleeping Beauties and I'm quite happy with them.

My B&K MC 101 has provisions for resistive loading in the MC phono stage and I have been able to get quite nice sounds out of mine.

I've never compared them to the other two in question but they sound as good or better than some of the other very good MC carts in my stable. They are also not so irreplaceable that I worry about playing my second hand records with them.

And not to start an argument but Mr. Pig have you listened to a Sleeping Beauty? I trust your judgement but your opinion seems based more on hearsay than personal listening experience. I know Coral isn't the be-all but from what I've read the Sleeping Beauty was a special case. Yes, No?

That being said the price is way high.

Good luck

Eric
 
I didn't see the $600 price. I was assuming 200. I am not a blackbirds fan but would go for a glider at the right price. I was of the belief that the GAS CARTS were good but have no direct experience.
 
You can still buy the SAE version on ebay for around $260. Not bad sounding for the money. $600 is way to much for the GAS.
 
62sunbeam said:
I have three Sleeping Beauties and I'm quite happy with them.

My B&K MC 101 has provisions for resistive loading in the MC phono stage and I have been able to get quite nice sounds out of mine.

I've never compared them to the other two in question but they sound as good or better than some of the other very good MC carts in my stable. They are also not so irreplaceable that I worry about playing my second hand records with them.

And not to start an argument but Mr. Pig have you listened to a Sleeping Beauty? I trust your judgement but your opinion seems based more on hearsay than personal listening experience. I know Coral isn't the be-all but from what I've read the Sleeping Beauty was a special case. Yes, No?

That being said the price is way high.

Good luck

Eric
Click to expand...

I have not owned the Sleeping Beauty per see. I have owned the Adcom Cross Coil, which is reported to being the same as the SAE cartridge, and from what I see the Sleeping Beauty also. But its been a long long long time since I had that cartridge. What I do remember is that I thought the Sumiko Alchemist III S I replaced it with was a far better cartridge, and I do not remember the Adcom doing anything to distinguish itself.

Now I am not sure that the GAS is either a great or an abysmal cartridge. My comment was more defined by the selling price. $600 for a 30 year old cartridge of reportedly NOS condition is unacceptable. Heck that cartridge probably sold for in the $300's, and good condition used ones sell regularly for the $150 to $200's. It would be cheaper to buy a used one, use it up, and then retip it.

I did have some cartridges rebuilt, one of which was a Sumiko Blue Point Special, which had an upgraded aluminum cantilever and stylus put in it. I sold it to a guy who did have one of the GAS cartridges, and it was mounted in a Magnepan arm and JVC drive unit. His experience was the improved BPS was noticeably superior to his GAS. Now that is just his observation, and the rebuilt BPS sold for about $275. So I could not see spending $600 for a Sleeping Beauty......

Regards
Mister Pig
 
the alchemist/talisman series of sumikos were SO much better than the oyster/blue point series. i have an original blue point and the very top and very bottom ends never quite made the grade in various tonearms. the bps was said to be a bp with a much improves mounting (to a metal plate) which apparently was much better. still, i never lusted for a bps.

my friend even had a series two in the blue boxcar body and it exhibited the same tendency if ever so slightly better than the original bp which was actually a pmount in a flimsy styrene adapter. its midrange was glorious but the extremes kept me from falling in love as i did with the original adc XLM.
 
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