Joined The Rega Club

[Dr.Bass]

Interesting video comparing Rega P5 to Technics SL1200 MK5
Technics SL-1200 vs Rega P5 - YouTube

 

[mahiruha]

Hi guys,
finally got a new cartridge for my rega rp6 TT. It is AT - OC9ML/II moving coil cartridge. It was a to pain to set it up with those immensely fiddly nuts and bolts. Very happy that it is set up now and playing decent music. The choice was easy as I saw in the Michael Fremer's 21st century vinyl dvd fitting this particular cartridge on a rega rp 5 TT. Hence I was more or less sure about the compatibility issue. First impression is very good much less surface noise compared to the ortofon 2m red and a more balanced and neutral presentation. Need to play around with the loading. Hopefully sound will improve more as it settles down. Looks like a really value for money moving coil cartridge.
Thanks.

 

[G401fan]

That's an excellent cartridge. I used to have its earlier Mk.1 incarnation and was very satisfied with the sound. It also has the advantage of being medium compliance - VTF between 1.3 and 1.8 gms - which made it work even with an arm like the SME 3009/II.

There is even a superior OC9ML III version that is available at lpgear.com at $499, discounted from its regular price of $ 1129.

 

[mahiruha]

That's an excellent cartridge. I used to have its earlier Mk.1 incarnation and was very satisfied with the sound. It also has the advantage of being medium compliance - VTF between 1.3 and 1.8 gms - which made it work even with an arm like the SME 3009/II.

There is even a superior OC9ML III version that is available at lpgear.com at $499, discounted from its regular price of $ 1129.

Hi G401fan,
Yes the cartridge is really good. The microline stylus goes really deep into the groove to dig out more details and much less surface noise even with older records. I am currently tracking at 1.5 gms VTF. Only odd thing with this cart was it came only with one nut & bolt so I had to use nuts and bolts that came with my VPI table as a result I can't fit stylus guard. Did your cart came with one nut & bolt as well ?
Thanks.

 

[G401fan]

Hi Mahiruha,

My cartridge came with both sets of nut/bolt and also the stylus guard. There is a recess/opening on each side of the stylus guard that permits you to keep it on while fitting the bolts.

One option you could consider is to reverse the position of the bolts so that the nuts come above the headshell. Not very pretty to look at, but that will make it possible to keep the stylus guard on when not in use - always a good thing.

 

[mahiruha]

Hi Mahiruha,

My cartridge came with both sets of nut/bolt and also the stylus guard. There is a recess/opening on each side of the stylus guard that permits you to keep it on while fitting the bolts.

One option you could consider is to reverse the position of the bolts so that the nuts come above the headshell. Not very pretty to look at, but that will make it possible to keep the stylus guard on when not in use - always a good thing.

Hi G401fan,
thanks for the suggestion but I think it is quite challenging to implement and will be a test of patience. For the time being I will keep it as it is and probably change it after some time. For a gimbal tonearm I always find it challenging to fit a cartridge needing a nut & bolt assembly. That's why I have always liked the ortofon 2m series and OM series cartridges as they have simple non fussy screw in mechanism. It is an exciting journey nevertheless.
Thanks.

 

[arj]

Hi G401fan,
thanks for the suggestion but I think it is quite challenging to implement and will be a test of patience. For the time being I will keep it as it is and probably change it after some time. For a gimbal tonearm I always find it challenging to fit a cartridge needing a nut & bolt assembly. That's why I have always liked the ortofon 2m series and OM series cartridges as they have simple non fussy screw in mechanism. It is an exciting journey nevertheless.
Thanks.

thats why i preferred tonearms with removable headshells ! just keep the cartridge s permanently mounted on headshells and keep changing them..all you need to do is adjust the tracking force

 

[Her Master's Voice]

thats why i preferred tonearms with removable headshells !

But the price one has to pay for this convenience is more loss of details because of transition resistance at the contacts of headshell/tonearm. The next point where those losses occur is the connection tonearm cable/phono cable. The best is to have a fixed headshell with direct cabling from cartridge to phono amp.

 

[arj]

But the price one has to pay for this convenience is more loss of details because of transition resistance at the contacts of headshell/tonearm. The next point where those losses occur is the connection tonearm cable/phono cable. The best is to have a fixed headshell with direct cabling from cartridge to phono amp.

fair point ..Since my TT setup is not really the most resolving, dont really miss it. although my removable headshell tonearm is more resolving than the Linn fixed headshell tonearm I have so that has not been a worry for me
I had heard the DL103R prefers a metal/wood combo for the best body so have an aluminium case for it and a wooden headshell.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

But the price one has to pay for this convenience is more loss of details because of transition resistance at the contacts of headshell/tonearm. The next point where those losses occur is the connection tonearm cable/phono cable. The best is to have a fixed headshell with direct cabling from cartridge to phono amp.

Yes I have seen wonderful positive results when it is connected directly or point to point. Transition resistance as well as impedance value are very critical in any phono connection