EEI Classic 700 MM - Surprises !

[Shivam]

I came across an unopened pack of EEI Classic 700 cartridge in a local shop. I bought it at a throw-away price of 80 rupees.

Today I thought of trying this cartridge out. I mounted it on ProJect Debut III and it sounded too harsh and colored. I tried with different LPs (Jazz, Classics and some pop) but the results remained same.

Then I used an old Indian LP - An Evening in Paris. This was a surprise. The vocals were clearer compared to all my earlier cartridges. I thought this to be an anomaly and tried out with few other Indian LPs - Hits of Mohd. Rafi, Haunting melodies of Lata and a few more old Indian pressings.
In all the LP's the vocals were clearer and with no harshness on the higher end.

The only exception that I found to this observation was 'Disco Deewane - Nazia Hassan'. This LP also sounded very harsh with the EEI.

I then mounted this cartridge on a Technics SL-D3 turntable that was gifted to me a few weeks back. The results were same.

I think that now I am going to use this turntable with the EEI classic 700 for old Indian songs.

Did EEI test this cartridge with old Indian pressings or were the standard of these Indian records set according to playback on systems using similar cartridges ? I have no idea why this is so, but I am happy for this chance discovery.

Now I can listen to those Indian LPs with pleasure that sounded veiled earlier.

 

[entsurgeon]

can you lend me 1 cart+stylus set??
need it for my philips 242.
how many carts were in the box?

 

[sughosh]

In all the LP's the vocals were clearer and with no harshness on the higher end.

The only exception that I found to this observation was 'Disco Deewane - Nazia Hassan'. This LP also sounded very harsh with the EEI.

Did EEI test this cartridge with old Indian pressings or were the standard of these Indian records set according to playback on systems using similar cartridges ?

Interesting point. Recording tech and expertise in India was pretty miserable till the 80s, as was playback tech for that matter, with those HMV four-speed lid-speaker atrocities and the ubiquitous GA-242 occupying most Indian households.

It's difficult to say which influenced which, but I think there is definitely case for both recordings as well as playback systems being "tweaked" to suit the expectations of the Indian ear. I know for a fact that most of the pop/rock records issued in India, especially towards the disco era, would sound pretty flat and have high treble, with cymbal sounds overpowering everything else (you could usually hear the cymbals very clearly even from the source, with your amplifier turned off).

 

[sughosh]

In stark contrast, going by what you hear in most houses and cars these days, the overwhelming sonic characteristic being demanded by the modern Indian ear is "more baass" :lol:

 

[mrunalrane]

hi
have you tried shure m55ed cartridge
or try using classic 700 pin with shure m55ed cartridge gives good result
coolect as many classic 700 stylus good for indian lps
bye vinly lover

 

[Shivam]

hi
have you tried shure m55ed cartridge
or try using classic 700 pin with shure m55ed cartridge gives good result
coolect as many classic 700 stylus good for indian lps
bye vinly lover

I have not tried this cartridge. I'll search for this and try it out. Indian pressings (mostly film songs) used to be very lifeless earlier for my taste. Now this has changed things. Shure should also be good. Thanks.

 

[Shivam]

can you lend me 1 cart+stylus set??
need it for my philips 242.
how many carts were in the box?

There was one cart with the stylus in the box. I read one of your earlier posts too. If I come across another cart/stylus, I'll let you know.

 

[entsurgeon]

please. also tell me what other components are in your system that made you term indian lps lifeless??

 

[Shivam]

ProJect TT with 2M Red cart - ProJect preamp - Denon Amp - Mordaunt Short speakers - Indian film songs were lifeless

Dual TT with AT cart - ProJect preamp - Denon Amp - MS speakers - Indian Film songs were mostly lifeless.

Project TT with EEI Classic 700 and rest as before - Songs had a new life. Vocals were clearer.

Technics TT with EEI Classic 700 - Once again Indian LP's sounded good.

( I did not want to replace the cart of Dual so I didn't try EEI on that. Technics TT earlier had a Technics 270C cart but the stylus is not in a good condition so I didn't consider that either.)

Though I have to add that most of the other LP's that I have apart from hindi film songs, sounded very harsh with this EEI cart.

 

[entsurgeon]

May I ask what titles n tracks did u play?

 

[Shivam]

I loved these on the EEI -
An evening in Paris - Leja leja leja mera dil
Shaan - Shaan se
Haunting melodies of Lata - Some random tracks
Kishore Kumar : Live at Los Angeles - Introduction
Aandhi - Is mod se jaate hain

Absolutely hated these on EEI -
Disco Deewane - Lekin mera dil, Disco deewane
Michael Jackson - Bad
Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge over troubled waters
Eagles - Hotel California

Today I was enjoying 'Khel khel mein' on the EEI.

( I have kept the cart mounted on Technics TT for old Indian film songs now and I use the other TT for all the other LPs )

 

[Shivam]

Since the time I understood the clarity in vocals offered by the EEI cart, I have been playing most of my hindi LPs on it only. I must have played around 20 different LP's since the first post about it.

One small problem that I have noticed is that it picks up a large amount of noise too from not too well kept LPs. Thankfully I don't have many in that condition.

 

[murali_n]

Hi shivam,

Try with Shure M97xE it plays with less clicks and crackle sound. It also sounds very neutral.

Just my Rs.2/-

N.Murali

 

[Shivam]

I am searching for this Shure now. Once I get my hands on it, I'll surely try it out.

 

[entsurgeon]

I am searching for this Shure now. Once I get my hands on it, I'll surely try it out.

theres a dealer in delhi. name add in forum. you can pm lakozy or ashish s another friend saurabh on the forum.
am online for little time so didn t search the thread and provide link myself

 

[Shivam]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll search for it when I visit Delhi next time.

( The reason I started this thread was to show that sometimes really cheap bargains can be fun too. I am sure that the Shure will sound still better. )

 

[Shivam]

Does anyone know how much this cartridge ( EEI Classic 700) actually costs ?

 

[sachu888]

Does anyone know how much this cartridge ( EEI Classic 700) actually costs ?

Hi,
I don'tl know the price,but this cart is discontinued.This was an Indian cartridge with very low output 2mv(not sure).It is only good for playing old Indian records.I own one with damaged stylus.


Regards,
Sachin

 

[murali_n]

Does anyone know how much this cartridge ( EEI Classic 700) actually costs ?

Hi shivam,

I used to buy its younger model the EEI 100 for Rs.250/- each, for my Cosmic 2000 BD belt drive model. But that must have been about 20 years ago.

N.Murali

 

[jls001]

Shure distributor in India is from Delhi. Contact person Mr Neeraj 9811089557. I think they will ship to anywhere in the country.