Unbiased Reviews by Real People
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Unbiased Reviews by Real People
An Ode To Analog...The Phono Cartridge And Them Ole Hi-Tracks!Mar 3, 2005 (Updated Mar 13, 2005) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Don't throw those old phono cartridges out.
Beautiful music and fun is what Analog is all about!
Who can remember the fun of yester November of installing your first tonearm's transducer with its parameters perhaps a bit looser yes, those days of phono reproducers And they were beauts were they not? those half inch mounts connected to your HH Scott The mags were all so good...Of course they were from Empire to Pickering to Shure And fun I had as I became the great installeur To others it was just simply a bore and to many well...just quite the chore But oh the labor and the eyes-a-squinting but the results were so worth their meager minting There were hi-tracks with lo-backs and gold-bodied wonders by Empire Though the task could be tedious there was no need to hire With a bit of patience and a strong desire one could have quite a sound coming from that platter that turned quietly around And they boasted all kinds of colours and packages from clear pill canisters to rosewooden cased sackages And although most of them appeared to be quite simple to my face their stylish colours only added a dimple And the turntables themselves were quite a sight they all sounded so good and looked to be so right From Benjamin/Miracord to PE to BIC to Pioneer to Sansui everyone loved them and no one said phewey ! From Technics To Thorens to Philips to AR and to Dual they all played well and looked so cool ! Yes, even the BSR/MacDonalds, Marantzes and Garrards did rule ! If one were a bit lucky...if one did it right one could attain sound of such delight but still aside from this point the phono cartridge was the hit of the joint ! The early ones had to track heavy They had to sound good and work like a Chevy And they would eventually get light with one or two grams force to our vinyl's delight they sounded so right And I owned them all...alright ...maybe just very many At times it would even burn my very last penny I cleaned out the dealer so he wasn't left with any ! I loved them all and gathered quite a collection so, I think I'll name them all to the best of my recollection There was The GE VR-II and the Astatic model that could flip then there was the Empire 808E, 999E,2000E, 2000E One Two and Three that added more zip And let us not forget the mighty Broadcast One that brought so many FM listeners so much fun ! But the phono cartridge that really caused so much glee was none other than the Empire 4000 D Did I forget to mention the 1000ZE? Mount them in a Troubadour and you'll see ! The Pickerings were among the best around and could sing better than those who had their moving coils wound The high output PAT,TLV, XV-15 200E and ATE would really rock but the XSV-3000 could really provide sock. Then along came ADC with its model XLM that could track really low...I had all three of them ...but then again... That was not all that I owned from ADC Add to my collection the QLM34 and 220Xe Their Linear Tracking turntables forget us not with their super low prices they hit the spot ! There were other P-Mount LT's from others you see from Technics, Pioneer, Radio Shack and JVC...tee hee I've had Grados, EV's, Elacs and a Sony or two but give the Stanton 681EEE-S and L847S their due ! along with the L720EE and 680EE too ! The 500's were great for cuing but they couldn't equal what the Ortofons were doing The OM 3E and 5E were and still are wonders to young and old but the most wonderful of all was the OM-40 Gold Out of Sumiko's Blue Japan came the Audio-Technica with its high frequency tracing stylus...the Shibata But do not be fooled by the lower cost of the A-T 12E, 11E and 10 as little info was lost ! And don't forget their version of a spin-off as Signet OFC cartridges were no rip-off They and their Precepts played as well as any so-called Digital source that would cost us plenty ! Yes, my collection over time grew fast who knew that all this fun would not last Still, my favorites have not been fully mentioned for I owned many Shures...so let me go fetch them There was the M3D, M44G and M55E but that's just the beginning It was the other Shures that were really winning The V-15's from Two to Five made the music seem to come alive with great detail and separation they were simply the best in the nation Can anyone else remember all the fuss when Shure introduced their Super-Track-Plus and claimed that it...Three could do anything better than Super Track Two ? But the ones I truly loved I have not mentioned...yet Oh, those fantastic Hi-Tracks did new standards set For thirty bucks or less I had the best of the best The M97HE, ED and EJ fought the almighty warp and sounded so fine They with their stabilized brushes would not decline to pretty much set the pace for the rest of the big Analog race The M95ED with its bright yellow stylus you heard right could rapture you up in pure musical delight ! Then there were the ones that accompanied many a table The M91E, M75E and ED were able to track heavily modulated passages but the M70B, M75C, M72EJ and B were absolute savages ! And Did anyone notice or am I the only fool that these wonders sound particularly good in a BIC PE or early Dual And better yet... who could ever forget... the M110He, M111He and ML-140He with their Hyperelliptical styli no no no, indeed I would not lie in my Pioneer PL-518 they sounded so sweet Yes...the most demanding needs they did meet Enough already you say...but I've only just begun Era IV was upon us and I'm far from done By 1982 give my wonderful Shure its due Bonds and flags they did waive As Era V was introduced so was Analog's grave And don't forget those Realistics...they were no gimmick as Shure Hi-Tracks they certainly did mimmick At two grams and a lower cost they played every tick and pop with nothing lost But of those ticks and pops we grew tired and to the Phono Cartridge we said "You're fired !" Then we did embrace new Digital wonders from Sony and Philips during the race to be the first and the best that could put the Compact Disc to the test And for Shure Analog would finally rest ! No more worries about those ugly ticks, pops and scratches We'll eliminate them all in batches ! ...these Digital wonders claimed Our CD players will soon all be famed The laser beam can read right through them all with no noise and fuss at all !! But I wonder about that and wonder from time to time Were not my old turntables with magnetic cartridges worth every dime ? Now instead of pops and ticking if we're not careful we'll get major clicking And when things go bad and the laser's heart ceases to beat instead of replacing it like a stylus...the whole business simply takes a back seat So off to the local dump it does go but it only serves to make my heart grow just a wee bit fonder of the fun I had... with them old made-in-America Hi-Tracks...man, they were bad ! And that means they were really good after-all through all seasons...Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall and one could quite downright honestly say especially after playing music with them all doggone day Well, my phono friends...God bless the USA !! But then Shure packed up and marched off to Mexico but they weren't the only ones to go Empire and ADC then decided to completely leave We were left with sisters Stanton and Pickering...I believe Things just were not the same, my sister and brother Analog rocks and there really is no other form of digital apparatus with which we should bother As time marches on so they say a time will come when there will be no work of art to display It'll be all right there on a chip which saddens me somewhat and lowers my lip For you see part of the fun and glory was that the record player looked great and the record told a story The album cover was so artful and seemed so clear If we really miniaturize...this will all disappear You'd call it a needle...I'd call it a stylus Though to some a pain...I call it marvelous And every year we'd replace it but our records would oh so embrace it When I stop and think about it...It really is kind of sad that my phono cartridges started to vanish and that's kinda bad and over time they became few but I ask you for Shure...who really knew ? that I would miss all the fun of creating a system that could turn records with the best of them ! Now two of my turntables are back and I've been able to get some phono cartridges I did lack and I am glad to say that for me Analog is back ! While the rest of you continue to discard and trash I think I'll just have one big bash Just keep sending me your old Hi-Tracks that to you no longer have worth I'll replace the stylus and give 'em a rebirth Yes, for every phono cartridge I've ever owned I wish I had a penny They're all listed here and I believe I've had many But wait just a moment...what do I see ? why it's the return of Stanton's 881S and 681 Triple E Mark Three! How did this happen and to whom do we owe this pleasure? Why would Stanton Magnetics take such a calibrated measure ???!!! The young ones have most assuredly found out with their DJ competitions what it's all about ! Yes, to our children indeed we should be ever so grateful with their new found fun...scratchin' and their straight-armed turntable Because of this new breed's great emergence many of my beloved phono cartridges have seen a resurgence Oh my my...don't you see? Because of them we once again have the Shure M44G and M97Xe not to mention the ever-so-popular audio-technica A-T 3482P And thanks to them Shure has kept alive the mightiest phono cartridge of them all...the V-15 Type Five ! Joe Grado's nephew has joined the pack of needle makers that have been brought back Think I'm kidding?...No, it's true We now have the Prestige RED GREEN BLACK and BLUE ! Who knows...if one has a little time and perhaps the inclination A Science project with your son or daughter may bring your old turntable to restoration Think of the time well spent with your loved ones including your niece Just a drop of oil and a smidge of grease and perhaps one can search out a part or two maybe just a small plastic fragment in need of some glue Okay, a Service Manual may very well be in order too But don't forget that cartridge and its needle replacing it should never take second fiddle Imagine the great bonding plus all the fun that has been won not to mention the great brain power spent together after all is said and done Oh, it's so ironic and isn't it funny when things were rough and we didn't have money no one ever gave trashing beautiful equipment a thought and perhaps before it's all over we will be taught to respect a thing of good taste and glory and ne'er grow distraught Now...it's come down to this and I've turned my back on Digital receivers and I now use to attack my Polk speakers with...get this, friends...a classic that from heaven above most assuredly came back ! A Pioneer SX-990 stereo receiver that has not one but TWO MAGNETIC PHONO INPUTS...Phew ! It's got tremendous sound capability but it also sports low phono sensitivity So keep sending me your ole hi-output Hi-Tracks as on Analog you so solidly did turn your backs all you wonderful home theater-like folks as these wonders excite my Polks As back into time, phono cartridges and mo' you've let me take you for a short walk Thank YOU!!...for I do appreciate it so and hopefully someday they'll all again talk !...Peter  |
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