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...
johnnantais

Showing 1 response by sjy425

I started with the London Super Gold and moved up to the Jubilee. It was really quite easy to set up and tracked fine on my Gyrodec with a Stax tonearm. It has incredible detail and slam. It really helps to clean your record and like all the deccas it likes to be cleaned. The two middle pins go to a common ground so polarity cannot be reversed. Hence I think I need to return to my Benz Ruby II. Less detail but nice and allows me to reverse polarity so that TT and CDP (Mephisto IIx) can both be in phase, because of Joule phono and line stage. But there is no denying there is something special in those London Deccas. Oh yes it tracks nicely anywhere around 2 grams give or take..
Steve