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Decca London Super Gold Compatibility Question

Can someone tell me what happens when you use the Deccas with the wrong arm? Is it a tracking issue or will it just not sound good? I tried it with my SME M2-12R with a Yamamoto wood headshell and the results were not great. Hoping it's just compatibility and not something wrong with the Decca.
dhcod

Showing 7 responses by noromance

noromance's avatar
noromance
1,780 posts
 
Try tracking at 1.65g.
Use a heavier headshell. 
What issue are you having?
noromance's avatar
noromance
1,780 posts
 
I used a 12" Jelco 750L for years with excellent results. Now an 12" 850L with even better sound. I had a Decca SG in an Ittok once and it wasn't a good match. It would jump out of the groove sometimes and break up on Zamfir's pan flute.
noromance's avatar
noromance
1,780 posts
 
You need a higher mass arm. Deccas can sound bass shy in a low mass arm. Try adding more weight to the headshell - I use brass bolts- and add more weight to the counterweight. Surface noise comes with the territory. 
noromance's avatar
noromance
1,780 posts
 
@bdp24 I always thought an arm worked best the closer the counterweight was to the bearing assembly. That’s why I suggested a heavier weight to balance the heavier headshell rather than moving the existing one further away.
noromance's avatar
noromance
1,780 posts
 
Interesting. Yet because the tube in question is not PVC, the added weight worked. Perhaps because the added mass is harder to excite allowing the stylus to move without wasting energy vibrating a lighter tube. Even if that tube was stiff.
noromance's avatar
noromance
1,780 posts
 
@br3098 All good. 
noromance's avatar
noromance
1,780 posts
 
There was a little girl,
Who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good,
She was very good indeed,
But when she was bad she was horrid.
~Longfellow
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