Cartridge for Pro-Ject Debut II

[Latteman]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NVA-Nene-Val ... 635-2958-0

[TheMarlin]

That is a mid/late 80's amp, model after mine: different heat-sink and no tape-monitor switch.

Price is a bit steep.

[slinger]

Yay, result!

Just won a Grado Signature Junior body in an Ebay auction. Just like with the MCZ - I was the only bidder.

Should be a great match for the 8MZ stylus and a step up from the Prestige Green housing.




Now I HAVE to get a better phono stage ....

[TheMarlin]

The Signature Jr. body arrived from Italy in today's post and I couldn't wait to try it out.

Dismounting the Prestige Black/Green cartridge I took a couple of photos.
Sig Jr is the gold-coloured one. Same size as the Prestige but feels a bit heavier.

Transferred the 8MZ stylus into the Jr and we are ready to roll.
First impressions are FAR more bass, clarity, airiness, wider soundstage, better definition and intimacy. Has the modest Pro-Ject 1.2 deck coming across like a serious high-class turntable.

Big improvement. The output voltage is powerful too, could be higher than the Prestige. I wonder how this would compare to my low-output MCZ?

Very happy!

[antonio66]

Well you live and learn ....

.... and so I joined a Grado Owners group on Facebook to learn a bit more about my cartridges. One of the boffins there asked what the code numbers were. Code numbers ??? Where??
"Look on the back above the pins," I was told - so I did and there are 3-digit codes engraved.



This is the Signature Jr., which has the code 'D96', meaning that it was manufactured in April 1996. This makes it a unit from the John Grado period, made around the time that Grado started producing their renowned wooden-body cartridges.





And then here on my MCZ we have 'A87' or January 1987. Founder Joseph Grado was still active, he personally supervised and checked all examples of his Signature series. "Aha!" said the brains of the Grado FB group; "That can't be an MCZ, they weren't introduced until 1988. That cartridge is an MCX.".

Very educational, Facebook, first my ProJect TT isn't what I thought it was, and now I was wrong about my vintage Grado. Fine.

So, more research: 1987 was a top year for Grado; their reputation was making waves around the globe and the digital CD revolution was still a storm-in-a-teacup affair. The Signature MCX cartridge was their top, flagship model and was designed with one single criterium - to be as musical as possible.

Joe Grado believed that music should touch you, move you and speak to your heart. This is the magic that these cartridges still have. They were made by a master with 'Golden Ears'. Little pieces of a Hifi legend.

Lucky me.

[antonio66]

You to will become a bit of a Grado expert if you keep reading Facebook
Seems you have fallen lucky twice, keep enjoying your vinyl.

[Latteman]

You to will become a bit of a Grado expert if you keep reading Facebook
Seems you have fallen lucky twice, keep enjoying your vinyl.

I don't know if I will ever be a 'Grado Expert' but am certainly becoming a Grado-addict.

One of those serendipitous accidents that changes and shapes you. Me and music/hifi have a complex relationship; 'Music was my first love' and all that. It is my drug and the 'fix' is being moved by the music. Resulting in me being a hifi-fan, audiophile, record-collector and receptacle for a vast amount of music-related trivia.

There are philosophical similarities between NVA and Grado, perhaps why I am so passionate about both. Richard Dunn and Joseph Grado were both men with a mission - let the music speak! It wasn't about commerciality, selling product or making megabucks. It was about keeping things basic, affordable and putting the listener into the heart of the artist.

Okay, Joe Grado drove around Brooklyn in a Lamborghini - that he bought from the worldwide licensing of Moving-Coil cartridges, which he invented. But in 1987 his flagship MCX cartridge was only $300, a tenth of what the competition would have asked. NVA and Grado kept and still keep it small. The artisan approach, give the best quality you can to those who appreciate it.

So let us all give thanks to the fact that there are devoted individuals out there who provide the rest of us with so much pleasure and enjoyment.

To Joseph, John and Jonathan Grado, Richard Dunn, Paul and Tomasz.

Thankyou.

[Latteman]

Another cartridge company I have a soft spot this ADC- interesting range of mm

[Latteman]

I’ve had several Grado carts- gold and 2 wood body versions- the wood body version was difficult to partner an arm / turntable- be interesting to see what your forum says about them

[Fretless]

I’ve had several Grado carts- gold and 2 wood body versions- the wood body version was difficult to partner an arm / turntable- be interesting to see what your forum says about them

'Grado Owners Club' on Facebook.