Post by Citroen on Jan 7, 2020 14:43:13 GMT 12
Apart from matching in weight for best resonant frequency response, what do you look for in a detachable headshell? Or do you detest detachable headshells on tone arms and prefer one piece arms? I grew up with "common knowledge" being that one piece tonearms were the bees knees, and detachable headshells not good due to loss of rigidity. Well, I think that was the theory anyhow. My DV505 has a detachable headshell, as does my SME arm. The flexibility and ease of swapping carts is a godsend for me. The hassle of changing carts on my Wand and Analogue Instrument arms means that I just don't do it, even though I would sometimes like to. Just purchased a Jelco HS-30, Magnesium Alloy body with natural wood , 16.9 grams without screws www.jelco-ichikawa.co.jp/cn4/hs-30.html
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Post by michaelw on Jan 7, 2020 16:07:54 GMT 12
reduction in rigidity and increase in wiring breaks from cartridge pins to preamp were oft cited as disadvantages. my sme oracle 345 has FIVE connections !!! i thought the sme's removable headshell would enable quick cartridge changes too, but it's just as big a PIA as a fixed tonearm, so i rarely change cartridges.  maybe i should have got a jelco...
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Post by Citroen on Jan 7, 2020 16:12:23 GMT 12
Interesting MW.
What was the problem? With my arms all I need to do is change the VTA, adjust tracking force and antiskate.
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Jan 7, 2020 16:17:36 GMT 12
Count me a fan of removable headshells too. Yes I know in theory that fixed should be better...
Ive got both a Sumiko MMT (on my Kenwood KD600) and a Jelco on my Gyro and the ability to easily change carts is a godsend.
My other arm is a Graham 2.2 which apparently you could get extra armwands for to enable cartridge swapping, but in truth its such a faff changing arms and resetting VTF etc that its not worth the bother.
Ive not experimented in many years with the different sound of headshells, I stick with the commonly supplied Jelco or Ortofon types these days. Back in my SME 3009 days there used to be a consensus of opinion that the AT headshells sounded better than the stock SME ones.
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Post by Citroen on Jan 7, 2020 16:28:51 GMT 12
SME headshells were mainly lightweight designs, highly perforated. I have a couple. If the weight is Ok, and you want to go the detached cartridge from headshell/arm principle then the SME headshell could be right for you. Some espouse the cartridge to float free, not be rigidly coupled to the arm. Some offer a foam pad that decouples the cart from the arm, eg cArtradgeman Isolator.  PS If you ever want to pass on that Graham, let me know! 
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Jan 7, 2020 16:40:39 GMT 12
Ive never tried that isolation technique but remember reading about it a few years back.
Re Graham: Are you sure you are ready for an expensive MC cart mounted on a unipivot mounted on an undamped suspended subchasis table. It can be a challenge.
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Post by Citroen on Jan 7, 2020 16:49:30 GMT 12
I'm quite used to unipivots, my first being the VPI JMW 9.
Currently have an Analogue Instruments 12 inch unipivot, and Wand Plus unipivot.
I've always wanted to try firstly an SME V, and failing that a Graham or Morch arm.
So, yes, I'm ready if you are willing!
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Post by michaelw on Jan 7, 2020 17:21:15 GMT 12
Interesting MW. What was the problem? With my arms all I need to do is change the VTA, adjust tracking force and antiskate.
the convenience factor compared to more conventional removable headshell arms is low with the SME.
the sme headshell doesn't just pop off like a regular headshell, you loosen the bolt and gently prise it off.
after refitting don;t forget to reset azimuth as it will have changed.
rest of the setup is easy if your cartridge has the correct mounting hole to stylus tip distance.
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 8, 2020 11:45:42 GMT 12
Just purchased a Jelco HS-30, Magnesium Alloy body with natural wood , 16.9 grams without screws I was seriously considering the Jelco HS-25, but in the end went for an Ortofon LH-9000 (for the Kenwood tonearm) - a bit more costly. I remembered James Grant recommending the Ortofon shells. 
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Jan 8, 2020 11:46:21 GMT 12
Is the SME 345 headshell any more rigid in order to offset the limitations MW ?
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Post by Citroen on Jan 8, 2020 11:53:43 GMT 12
Just purchased a Jelco HS-30, Magnesium Alloy body with natural wood , 16.9 grams without screws I was seriously considering the Jelco HS-25, but in the end went for an Ortofon LH-9000 (for the Kenwood tonearm) - a bit more costly. I remembered James Grant recommending the Ortofon shells. Yes, I bought one based on James' recommendation. It works well with my Dynavector arm.
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Post by michaelw on Jan 8, 2020 12:06:52 GMT 12
Is the SME 345 headshell any more rigid in order to offset the limitations MW ? i believe so.
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Post by sub on Jan 8, 2020 12:31:12 GMT 12
I have the Jelco HS-25, cost about $80 a couple of years ago, on which is mounted my Denon DL103R cart. Use it on my Yamaha YP-D9 DD tt to good effect. Replaced a standard Yamaha Headshell - a SME look-alike.  
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 8, 2020 13:42:45 GMT 12
Does anyone else notice a difference (sound) when the those lightweight finger-lifts are removed? Also the rubber ring-washer on the rear end? (Aside from Graham.)
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Post by Citroen on Jan 8, 2020 13:51:59 GMT 12
I only have a couple of headshells where removing the finger lift is an option. Never tried to compare without finger lift.
The convenience is too great to not have it.
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Post by Citroen on Jan 8, 2020 13:57:57 GMT 12
Only 3 of my 10 headshells have that rubbery ring. And those three are cheap generic ones, so maybe there's something in NOT having them.
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Post by michaelw on Jan 8, 2020 14:13:46 GMT 12
Does anyone else notice a difference (sound) when the those lightweight finger-lifts are removed? Also the rubber ring-washer on the rear end? (Aside from Graham.)
*maybe* slightly improved sound but could never get any definitive result so i keep finger lift on, as monsieur c says, it's too useful to remove.
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 8, 2020 15:57:51 GMT 12
Do you use the damped cueing lever?
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Post by Citroen on Jan 8, 2020 16:19:40 GMT 12
Ah, that's a S2-R headshell for the SME 3012R arm. Lightweight, not very rigid. I've ditched it for a more solid heavier headshell on my 3012R. Much better sound, clearer, tighter, more extended range. From left to right (from the net, not mine) :S2 (Shure SME Series II), S2 (SME Series II), S2-R (SME R), S2 (rare version with slots) 
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Post by Citroen on Jan 8, 2020 16:26:45 GMT 12
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Post by michaelw on Jan 8, 2020 17:42:27 GMT 12
what arm have you got the delos on ?
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Post by Citroen on Jan 8, 2020 17:50:30 GMT 12
Dynavector DV505, with Ortofon LH-9000 headshell Some of my other headshells Audio Technica, Dynavector DV x2, Oyaide CF, Orsonic AV-101b 
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Post by michaelw on Jan 8, 2020 21:18:44 GMT 12
my bad, thats not a delos, dorian ?
nice case !
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Post by Citroen on Jan 8, 2020 22:33:13 GMT 12
Dorian mono is on an SME 3012-R
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Pundit
Post by belbo on Jan 30, 2020 21:33:08 GMT 12
I just gotten a Jelco HS-25 and a Yamamoto HS-3, both with azimuth which is important for me. I bought them so I can adjust resonance for lower/higher compliance cartridges (together with an extra weight there is a 6gr difference between the two), however I am also curious about the attributes of wood vs metal.
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 31, 2020 9:09:50 GMT 12
Certainly there will be a difference, but you may have to trust your own ears on this one The different materials (& design) may match one cartridge better than another h'shell.
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