Glanz moving magnet cartridges

Lew,
I'll be very interested in your opinion on the Empire 1000ZE/X when you have listened?

From my experience it sounds just great out of the box which might throw you a bit, and it gets even better.
To start with, I'd try it at higher than Raul's 1.0gm VTF although after 30 hours it certainly warrants lowering.

You called Nikola?
I am happy to say that I am well but puzzled slightly about your reference to those who do not own tonearms with detachable headshells?
You are surely not one of those........?! :^)
With regard to cartridges with integrated headshells.......I tend to agree with Dgob.
It would seem impertinent to assume that the manufacturers did not conduct a thorough testing procedure to determine the best possible results in their integrated designs?
It would be hard to imagine the 'improvements' bestowed upon the legendary Fidelity Research FR-7 series of cartridges were they to be stripped of their integrated headshells?
But perhaps others know better?

How goes it with you Nikola?.........do you ever see yourself mounting your 'perfect' silver wired FR-64s tonearm?
It would be interesting to compare it to your Reed.....no?

Cheers

Glad to see your post of course but do we need to force you to contribute?

As I have zero experience with Glanz cartridges..........the obvious answer is.....yes.

Regards

Dear Raul,
I always respect your opinions but.......in the case of the FR-7 series cartridges in their fixed headshells.....I beg to differ?
If one uses these cartridges in the FR series tonearms (for which they were certainly designed) and set the spindle to pivot distance to that recommended by Fidelity Research.......you achieve a perfect Baerwald alignment. Now VTA and VTF are easily adjustable via the tonearm and have nothing whatsoever to do with the cartridge/headshell design.
This leaves only azimuth as the 'missing' adjustment.....but I have found that azimuth, when adjusted by the majority of users......is more often wrongly set?
The proof of the pudding is in the 'results'......and it seems churlish to bemoan the fact that a 'glorious' sound could potentially be better?
I strive to eliminate and reduce distortions in the entire audio chain as far as I can.....just as you do......but the fixed headshell of the FR-7 cartridges is not one of the places that I would select to work upon?

Dear Nikola,
I really don't know if 230mm for the FR-64s gives Stevenson or Baerwald as I only have Dertonarm's template to align them and it doesn't say what geometry is used?
The strange thing is......that Daniel recommends that 231.5mm be used for the FR-64s yet accepts the Fidelity Research specification of 295mm for the FR-66s?
To allow the interchange capability of all my interchangeable headshell/cartridges......I must use the 230mm and 295mm figures.
This then relates to a S to P distance of 223mm for the MA-505s tonearm?

Halcro, why in the hell today you own several tonearms and dozens of HEADSHELLS? why? please let me know.

I own the tonearms because I am 'sick'.....just like Nikola :~}
And I own the dozens of headshells so I can have the dozens of cartridges I own......mounted and ready.
Of all the headshells I own........the majority are Yamamoto Ebony HS-1As or Fidelity Research S3. The remaining metal headshells I own are used for cartridges I almost never play?
I almost never change headshells for my favourite cartridges and I am certainly NOT a 'tester' of cartridge/headshell combinations?
You may not think this to be 'smart'......but that's the way I am?
I do not place the same importance on azimuth adjustment as you do.
Berating me about that is a futile exercise. Let's agree to disagree?

Dear Nikola,
I agree with you about the FR-64s.....but I also think the FR-66s is even more beautiful?
And such authority it has.
In fact.....I have been contemplating selling my DaVinci arm and replacing it with an arm that accepts interchangeable headshells...like the DV-507MkIII?
But then I thought......there is no other arm (other than the Copperhead) which is as good with MMs AND LOMCs as the FR-66s.....so why take a risk? Why not just buy another FR-66s?
And in terms of investment strategy.......it's like money in the bank?

Regards
Henry

Dear Nikola,
To put into perspective the variations and possible combinations that can affect the sound of the analogue performance in my particular case.......with every cartridge there are 9 possible adjustments:-
1. Turntable x2
2. Arm x4
3.VTF x5
4. VTA x4
5. Azimuth x4
6. Overhang x3
7. Loading x2
8. Capacitance x4
9. Anti-skate x3
With the minimal options for each that I have included......it makes 46,080 combinations and permutations for EACH cartridge.
And I have 30 of them!!??
Forget the 'anal' factor......ask yourself.....'Do I ever want to just listen to the music?'

Cheers
Henry

but I understand that an architect loves 'huge projects'.

Ha ha...very true.
In the variables I listed....I left out Headshells and Headshell Wires.....which Raul rightly advocates as important elements.
Throw in a choice of 5 headshells and 3 types of wiring.....and we are up to 691,200 combinations for each and every cartridge?
Raul convinces himself that he is close to perfection in the evaluation of his cartridges and all the variables, but the reality is......he is as far from it as am I?

Cheers

Dear Professor,
The reason you don’t like broccoli has nothing to do with the quality of broccoli per se….for I know it very well and it is a fine food product.
The reasons perhaps you don’t know it……but your crockery, cutlery and dining table are not allowing you to taste the ‘real’ broccoli?
You insist on using Rosenthal plates with the raised outer rims which simply don’t allow for the broccoli to be brought ‘level’ to the edge of the plate. This brings ‘distortions’ to the ‘cutting’ of the broccoli which I’m sure you understand the consequences?
Also china plates simply don’t compare to the quality of real ‘silver’ plates in matching the ‘neutral’ taste of the furry ends?
Also your knives….which I know very well as I had them in my dining room for several weeks……..are serrated instead of being highly sharpened and smooth? You should know that these ‘serrations’ are introducing ‘distortions’….which you may love….but which are not true to the real broccoli tastings?
Your dining table…which I have seen and tested in various Ikea showrooms….is wooden and NOT extendable!
Tell me how….how is it possible….to accurately place the position of the plate with the broccoli on it, in relation to your seating position….if you can’t extend the table?
Have you tried eating broccoli off a polished stone table? You should try it? You have nothing to lose…only to gain whereby you can enjoy the true flavour of this wonderful vegetable?

But how can I help you?
You love those baseless food products like lobster, caviar and oysters which are so full of ‘distorted’ flavours that I sold all my leftover caviar to a travelling band of Mariachi musicians.
Oh yes…..you love the ‘wow’ factor when the caviar ‘pops’ in the mouth and the oysters slide down your throat….but what has got to do with the ‘real’ taste of those top foods like zucchini, cauliflower and broccoli?
And I know the accurate taste of the offal…..liver, heart, kidney and brains….you also don’t like?

Please don’t take this the wrong way Professor?
I have trained myself over the years to appreciate the ‘accuracy’ of boiled vegetables…the ‘Kings of Food Produce’…over the distorted exaggerated taste sensations of steak, bacon and duck….and don’t get me started on Asian cuisine?
But anyone can do this ‘training of the palate’ if you practice hard enough and use the right crockery, cutlery and table?

Regards and enjoy the repast,

Dear Raul,
Good to see you also have a sense of humour?
At the moment.....because of the lack of a preamp.......no distortions of any kind for me?!

CALAMARI?

Only off a silver plate Herr Professor!

Dear Nikola,
I have travelled through Holland and have met a few Dutch people in Australia and elsewhere.
I am not like the Dutch........
I would like to give you one of my 155Lc styli.......but since there is no further source for them.......and they are my favourite assemblies bar none.....I must unfortunately demonstrate my selfish side?
All 4 styli are currently employed on active duty in Signet cartridges.
But........I suspect that Axel's nude line contact styli would be very similar?
It's worth a try?

Thank you Banquo,
In the past I seem to remember that StereoNeedles only accepted payment via direct Bank Transfer...and I was not prepared to pay the bank's fees for this plus have no Buyer's Protection to boot?
I just used your link to buy the 155Lc and they now accept PayPal.....so it's done?!
My dilemma now is......should I send Nikola one of my 155Lc stylus assemblies for being a good friend?......or teach him a lesson for 'begging' and not being prepared himself....to fork out for a NOS one?
Should I?.....shouldn't I?......

Dear Banquo,
I have one 155Lc on the TK-3Ea and one on the TK-5Ea and one on the TK-7Ea as well as one on the AM-10s (on the Professor's advice).
Whist both the 3 and the 5 are improved with this transplant......the bigger bang I think.....because it is a more refined cartridge anyway.....is the 5.

Now the good news for our Baltic friend......is that he has no requirement for the 155Lc as I don't believe it fits in the TK-7E......only the TK-7Ea?
The Professor will surely correct me if that is not so?
The 'friendship challenge' remains on hold awaiting such confirmation? :~}

Oh oh.......just received a full refund from StereoNeedles for my PayPal payment for the 155Lc stylus.
Seems that Paypal won't allow them to send merchandise outside the USA even though they process the payment?
Strange.......out of the hundreds of International PayPal transactions I have conducted over the years........and to every man and his dog on EBay who has no such restrictions......StereoNeedles are the exception?
Back to square one........there is no source for 155Lc styli outside of the continental USA?

Dear Nikola,
My 'Slavic' friend......perhaps I was dreaming of the Baltic?
I was not impressed with Belgrade when I was there 40 years ago.....and in a Skopje campsite (I know it's really Macedonia but then.....everything was Yugoslavia!) on the toilet wall was written...."If the world were shaped like an elephant, then Skopje would be the a..hole".

Our friendly Professor has confirmed my thoughts...and at the same time....'invented' another friendship 'test'!!!?
To clarify his 'gospel' a little further.......when I purchased my NOS Signet TK-7Ea....it came complete with the No.2 and No.3 Signet stylus assemblies.
With the No.2 inserted ( as I understood it)....you had the standard 7Ea whilst with the No.3...you had a TK-7SU (Shibata profile).
This is Audiofeil's favourite cartridge according to his postings?
There was another Signet stylus assembly (which I have never seen but the Professor actually owns).....with a Line Contact diamond which....when inserted.....transforms the 7 into the TK-7LCa (the Professor's favourite cartridge).
The 155Lc is the closest we mere mortals can come to this behemoth and in my book.......it is pure bouillabaisse!

Regards

Damn you guys!
May your coils boil and your needles spread eagle.
May your gloating visages freeze in the changing winds and may your balls drop off!

A curse on your house also Vetterone.
You can join your merry friends in your mutual 'gloat-fest'.
So far...the only friend I have amongst you is Dgob. But that is yet to be proven?
And to think I thought Slavs would stick together?!

There’s no denying the tenacity of Nikola….
Here we have an esoteric cartridge Thread begun by Dgob (no slouch in the perseverance stakes himself) which may well have died from lack of contributors were it not for the surprising intervention of Nandric?
Surprising…in that he himself had no experience with the topic at hand….nor was he to gain any for almost the entire duration of the Thread?

Floundering initially in the vacuum he found himself…….Dgob kept plugging away, enticing us with tales of myth and promise and begging for responses…information….contributions.
Anyone?….anyone?…..
And then came Nikola….into the fray at first like some tentative Dutchman…….but gently and increasingly displaying his Slavic origins by somehow managing to contribute readable posts without offering the qualifications one normally requires of a ‘mentor’?

Sucked in by this audacity…..others….. also suitably unqualified enough to speak….found their tongues and so the Thread survived.
Still prodded back to life by Dgob however, whenever it seemed to collapse under its own lack of substance…..until out of the gloom (and without fanfare of any kind) dropped a post by Vetterone who, like Dgob, actually had heard and owned some Glanz cartridges.
To Nikola…this was just what he needed. Validation from an expert practitioner in the field of analogue……
And so the quest began in earnest for Nandric to acquire these ‘unicorn’ cartridges for himself. And in this he was successful to the tune of four different models….

And why, you may ask…..do I summarise all this for the patient, baffled readers still wondering why they continue to read about cartridges they have never seen nor heard and are unlikely ever to do?
Because dear readers……I now have all four of those Glanz cartridges belonging to Nandric.
Look well dear readers at these cartridges, for you are unlikely ever to see so many Glanzs (Glanzae? Glanzi?) in the one place at the one time?
Nandric wanted me to hear these mythical beasts and give my opinions.
So…for what it’s worth, here it is…….

The G5 (M5 stylus) with its sexy chromed integral headshell was initially mounted in one of my Fidelity Research FR-66s 12” tonearms on the Raven AC-2 turntable whilst the MFG-31L, MFG-51L and MFG-71L were all mounted in wood headshells on the SAEC-8000/ST tonearm on the nude Victor TT-101 DD turntable.
After suitable run-in times for all cartridges…..listening began.
At first it was almost impossible to distinguish between the 31L, 51L and 71L….so alike were their sounds.
This is unsurprising when one studies the specifications of each cartridge to discover that they are to all intents and purposes identical?

Dgob began this Thread by focusing on the G5 integral headshell model and continued with his enthusiasm….eventually including the G7, also an integral headshell design.
I found the G5 to be a pleasant but unremarkable cartridge….very dependent on tonearm matching (it sounded fine in the FR-66s tonearm but in the Micro Seiki MA-505s the sound became recessed and boring with a loss of bass slam and an overall lethargy to the music).

The ‘normal’ Glanzs were rather more convincing in their overall presentation with a better refined frequency extension.
The bottom depth does not compete with the ‘hard-hitters’ in my collection…..but I can certainly live with the smooth, unfussed beauty they provide.
I was able to pick up some slight differences in the three models with my preference going to the MFG-51L over the MFG-31L.
The MFG-71L strangely enough…..was my least favourite….although I stress again the differences were subtle in the extreme.

Had I heard these cartridges a year or so ago……I would have ranked them quite highly but recently I have acquired some samples (all MMs)…..which have raised the bar and revealed a presentation and information extraction that has shocked and delighted me…..

Nevertheless…..I kept the Glanz MFG-51L and sent Nandric a pristine example of an AT-155Lc cartridge complete with its original square shank, nude mounted line contact stylus on its beryllium cantilever for transplanting into his Signet TK-7LCa.
It will be interesting to hear his views on that compared to the Glanz G5?

Dgob,

I’m sorry if my impressions appear to be negative?
That was not my intent…..nor is it accurate.
I found the G5 to be “unremarkable” in that it’s presentation revealed nothing that was not available from a number of my finest cartridges.
This is not a ‘condemnation’ of the G5…..as it is being compared to the ‘crème de la crème’ of my selected collection.
I do find the AT150 ANV to be more detailed, transparent and convincing in its overall presentation than the G5……but this is to be expected from a Signet TK-7LCa ‘wannabe’ :-)
Where the 150ANV loses out to its illustrious predecessor IMHO… is in its emotional content.
The ability of some cartridges to suspend belief…and draw you in to the performance is akin to alchemy?
How do they do it?
Whilst it may be an ‘emphasis’ in the 40Hz region that makes one cartridge appear to delve deeper than another and a ‘peak’ in the 10K Hz range that delivers perceived ‘air’ or ‘detail’…….how does one explain with science….the way one cartridge can startle and amaze?
How can one cartridge deliver the performers into the room whilst another ‘wallpapers’ with a flat presentation?
How does one cartridge seem effortless and ‘alive’ whilst another seems to strain under its onerous duties?

I’m not sure Dgob whether you have spent much time with the ‘normal’ Glanzs……the MFG-31L, 51L and 71L?…….but it was to them I was referring in their ‘likeness’ to one another.
The G5 was easily distinguishable but I have not heard a G7 to enable comparisons?

As you rightly observe…..there are many views, tastes, preferences and system differences to explain our varying experiences and all each of us can do is find the path that individually suits.
I don’t for instance, find the AT150 ANV particularly impressive in the “bass control” or ‘depth’ region….nor do I find the Technics EPC100Mk3 any competition for the real champs ‘down there’?
But then again…..I find the EPC100Mk3 to be one of the most boring cartridges I have heard.
So concerned was I about this fact after reading the eulogies heaped of the 100Mk4….that I sent my 100Mk3 to Axel Schuerholz to check its functions.
It was returned as “working flawlessly”………
I don’t personally know the differences between the 100Mk3 and 100Mk4…..but a trusted former contributor called Travis Lundy (Tbone) has both models and loves his 100Mk3?

The audio world is a vast territory with a tiny subspecies of lunatics devoted to analogue and an ever smaller sub-culture of these who are obsessed with cartridges/styli/cantilevers.
I genuinely thank you for bringing the elusive Glanz cartridges to our notice and it has resulted in the very fine MFG-51L joining my select collection.

Kind Regards
Henry

Jmowbray,
The AT-155Lc cartridge.....whilst retaining the signature 'sound' of the Signet TK Series.......always sounds a little 'thin' to me.
There is a 'body' to the Signet TK-3, TK-5 and TK-7 which somehow eludes the AT despite the fact that it runs what was my favourite stylus assembly before the Jico SAS.
Even the TK-3Ea, TK-5Ea and TK-7Ea with their own styli sound more relaxed and focused to my ears.
With the 155Lc stylus transplant in any of these Signet models.....the AT-155Lc cartridge is easily outclassed and out-refined.

The AT-7V shares more than a passing resemblance to the AT-155Lc cartridge to my ears.....and whilst I have not attempted the comparison with the 155Lc transplant.....I would be surprised if it matched the composure of the Signets?

I think you will enjoy your forthcoming listening experiences?
Please keep us informed?

Dear Nikola,
The Bavarian audiophiles (and the Japanese) know their onions......
The fact is that most people never have heard a Fidelity Research FR-66s tonearm in their system or a 'known' set-up.....yet so many feel the need to disparage it?
Only when you hear one....with almost any cartridge you care to choose.....will the 'light' come on.....
There is no other arm I've heard (apart from the Cobra and Copperhead) which has the control and authority over LOMCs and MMs equally.....to be truly called a 'Universal' tonearm?
But the Cobra and Copperhead do not have interchangeable headshells and are such a pain technically to set up with any cartridge....that I could not recommend them for those with multiple cartridges.
This is a shame as the Copperhead is probably the best tonearm I've ever heard with each and every high-compliance MM I've mounted.
Just behind the Copperhead in magical synergy with MMs....is the SAEC-8000/ST...and it DOES have interchangeable headshells :-)
It is however not such a good match for heavy LOMCs.

So if anyone wants the very best genuine Universal tonearm which takes interchangeable headshells and is a breeze to set up.....there is really no competition for the FR-66s IMHO.
And for those who might want one in perfect condition.....they need to be prepared to pay heavily for the privilege?
But that is the mark of excellence....and only 'time' can bestow this quality.

Hi Don,
I didn't realise that you also had joined the Glanz club?
It's good to read your thoughts.....and gratifying for me that you 'get' my comments? :-)

Nikola is unlike most Slavs (who actually say what they think) in that he kept making snide remarks about the quantity of 155Lc styli I owned?
How was I to realise he meant for me to share around my stash?
The 'ruse' of sending me the Glanz cartridges was a brainwave on his part....and it worked a treat :-)

I am however anticipating a muted reaction from this Dutch/Serb who distinctly prefers the sounds of LOMCs?

Greetings Professor,
As usual....an interesting contribution and a great Link. Thanks....
As the only damped tonearms I've owned have been uni-pivots (Hadcock, Grace, Graham)...I'm not sure how other types can be damped unless one resorts to the DIY outboard rigger in a bath of oil as shown in your Link?
But without derailing this Glanz Thread for Dgob.....perhaps we should begin another?

But as Nandric seems to be consumed by the madness of matching the FR-66s to MM cartridges......I have tested it with the Garrott P77/SAS using the Shure V15Type V Audio Obstacle Course Test record and confirm that the resonant frequency of this combination is 11 Hz. A nice figure.....

But the question of the resonant frequency of a tonearm/cartridge combination only arises IF and WHEN the stylus meets a warped record?
Without a warped record.....there is no significance to this calculation?

There are far more important factors involved in the mating of an arm/cartridge IMHO....

Dear Nikola,
I think you are right.....
The Fidelity Research FR-64s and FR-66s tonearms have a very Teutonic appearance.
The big Micro tables also have that same design ethic IMHO?

Banquo is correct.