Demagnatize cartridge??

Ghostrider45, on a side note, did you have any difficulty mounting the DL304?

The 304 is too light to mount without a headshell weight to my VPI JMW9 (even after I upgraded to the Signature Series). So I use the headshell weight, but THEN none of the screws I have are long enough. So I go to ACE and find some longer screws that are really too thin, but they work. NOW, with the cartridge in the proper position, it's heavy enough that I have to move the counter-weight midway back on its tonearm post, which isn't ideal for this sort of tonearm -- it's better to have that weight as far forward as possible. BUT take the headshell weight off, use the proper screws, and NO DEAL -- can't get enough tracking force!!! It's a genuine Catch-22!!

Just wondered what your experience was...

Cekiv - I have my 304 mounted on an overhauled Yamaha PX-2. The cartridge came with 2 sets of screws, one pair too short and the other too long. I used the too-long screws of course.

I had no problem balancing the cartridge and setting tracking force to 1.2 grams, though the cartridge semed pretty light compared to the Shure Ultra 500 I had mounted previously. The balance weight is pretty far forward but not at the end of its travel, which is a good thing.

Surprisingly it tracks very well. I wasn't sure what to expect with the Denon - the Ultra 500 is a tracking champ.

As I mentioned, the headshell clips were loose on the cartridge pins. Did you notice this? A good bump could dislodge a connection if you didn't crimp the connectors for a snug fit.

My phono preamp is a Pass X-ONO which is dead quiet with this cartridge even though it's set to maximum gain.

Did the hum start after the collision with the scale? Does it occur in both channels or just one? When you mounted the cartridge, did you do anything to prevent electrical contact between the cartridge body and the headshell?

BTW, I recently bought the cartridge new from ebay from a German dealer (I'm in US). It came within a week of purchase in unopened condition - no problems. He had a few more in stock if anybody else wants one.

You guys seem to have it under control. but just a word of caution about the Shure "teeter-totter" stylus force gauge: although it's stainless steel, it still has magnetic properties and can be attracted to the very strong magnets in some (most?) MC cartridges. And even if the attraction is not catastrophic, it can throw the readings off.

even if the attraction (of the Shure gauge is not catastrophic, it can throw the readings off

Good point. It does, invariably so. You have to resort to tricks (side-ways readings, etc). Oh well...

Cekiv,

There's nothing wrong with "digital" scales of course. They are certainly more accurate than the Shure teeter-totter, even a non-magnetic one. (Some Shures are magnetic and some aren't. This is because Shure failed to accurately specify the right kind of SS for different production runs. Some SS is magnetic, some isn't.)

To use your new scale safely you need some kind of step, so that you're not dropping the cartridge directly onto the magnetically attractive platform. This confers the additional benefit of letting you weigh at record surface height, which is also more accurate. The doohickey you need can be DIY'd from nearly anything. Here's a photo of one (overly elaborate) solution:

http://www.simplyblack.net/WVC/tools/scale.htm

My step is simply a 1" wide length of brass strip folded into the appropriate shape. Others cut up a credit card and glue the pieces together, which seems like an excellent idea for audiophiles! ;-)

Doug