Yes, you are stark, raving mad! Just goes to show you that the Deccas - when you can get them to work well - are in many respects unmatched by anything devised to date, especially dynamics and speed. I have found an excellent and obvious match to my Decca: a Decca International tonearm. I am listening to it right now, and amazed that this very difficult cartridge (I have had other Decca Super Golds which behaved better than this latest one) is playing beautifull with no sign of mistracking. I have totally modded my Decca tonearm, re-wiring it, and glueing all the friction fits in place with epoxy-resin. NOW we're talking about detail and PRaT. The Decca International is not very strong in the bass, however, which mitigates that other Decca strength to some extent: powerful and juicy bass slam. According to a recent review in Hi-Fi World, the new Deccas now track superbly, being now fitted with a new stylus shape. For the moment, mine is tracking well too, and still blindingly fast and very detailed. Even smooth!!!
Decca cartridge experiences
I really don't expect any response to this as the issue of Deccas, and all the controversies they stirred up is now passé, but does anyone out there own and use a Decca, and if so, did you find a tonearm which will accomodate it? I'd appreciate it if anyone shared their experiences with it, good or bad. I've found two tonearms in which it will work well: one a Mayware tonearm in which it works superbly, and one a Maplenoll air-bearing 'table with fluid damping trough, but I'm having a bit of trouble getting this combo to work again (I've only recently re-acquired the Maplenoll)...I'll have to fiddle with viscosity, amount of fluid and so on.
To all those who haven't had a chance to hear this cartridge, and who like to experiment and have fun (and tear their hair out), then a Decca still has the most slam of any cartridge, and retrieves an incredible amount of detail from the groove. Though these days it no longer sells for pocket change (the Super Gold goes for $850, but there are cheaper models), it's still not in the stratosphere like so many others. It is dificlt to find a tonearm which will accomodate it as well.
I'd appreciate as well any experiences with the new versions, as I hear the new stylus profile makes it less difficult. I think the responses will be "0", but any cartridge which stirred up this much controversy (at least a while ago) is Good News, like the Shelter (which is far more accomodating, however)...Thank you for your attention, if any attention there is...
To all those who haven't had a chance to hear this cartridge, and who like to experiment and have fun (and tear their hair out), then a Decca still has the most slam of any cartridge, and retrieves an incredible amount of detail from the groove. Though these days it no longer sells for pocket change (the Super Gold goes for $850, but there are cheaper models), it's still not in the stratosphere like so many others. It is dificlt to find a tonearm which will accomodate it as well.
I'd appreciate as well any experiences with the new versions, as I hear the new stylus profile makes it less difficult. I think the responses will be "0", but any cartridge which stirred up this much controversy (at least a while ago) is Good News, like the Shelter (which is far more accomodating, however)...Thank you for your attention, if any attention there is...
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- 102 posts total
- 102 posts total