Black Widow! I can't believe it, but I read a comment by someone on AA that the Decca tracked very well in the Black Widow, and I was surprised as that was the LAST tonearm I ever thoguht a Decca could track in, being ultra low-mass and having knife-edge bearings to boot. I mean, you'd think that it would rattle like a castanet in that, right? Well, having recently acquired one, I thought I'd give it a whirl to see what's what: do you know it tracked operatic Vivaldi, Mannheim Steamroller, and some very difficult pop recordings I have (Talk Talk) without mistracking once? Like a normal cartridge! And I have owned several Deccas and have to say that this particlar one has been the most difficult I've owned. And my Black Widow doesn't even have the fluid damping option! I mean, it was almost boring, it tracked so normally, sounding just like an average MC (I'll have to mount the Black Widow, given this, on one of my more serious 'tables)! Any other matches out there I should know about? And how's the Schroeder experience going? And others?
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