50 euros, what a bargin! I’ve had a Xerxes back in the day, traded in an LP12.., a Xerxes X (in rosewood) and now a Vertere. I still have the X which my eldest daughter wants when she has enough living space. I think they are all very musical and good match for naim electronics.. I’m sure you’ve thought of this, but have you tried writing to Monitor Audio/Roksan about the blobs - I found them very helpful when I had problem with my X.
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I did ask through Finnish distributor about the blobs but can’t remember did I ask straight from Roksan. I will check it and if not, I will send them a message! Thanks for asking it, good reminder.
I accidentally damaged my stylus on my Grado Ref 3 high output. The entire time I owned the cart my phono had a manufacturing fault which was curtailing the bass output, so it’s fair to say I NEVER truly heard this cart at its best.
As you guys know Grado do not repair damaged carts and I wasn’t willing to wait for a replacement from the US so I picked up Vertere Dark Sabre which is settling in now on my Vertere SG1.
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So which do you prefer … Grado Ref 3 High output or Vertere Dark Sabre?
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Here is my latest turntable. It is a Project turntable with a FrankenSME arm with a Shure M75ED type II cartridge.
I bought the SME as a box of parts and made the counter weights, various other parts and bias weight. The only part I’m unhappy with is the arm lifter bar. This sits at an angle so when I lift the arm it moves outwards. Tracks well until the highest levels when it breaks up on the peaks. The cover is made from polycarbonate and weighs 2.5 Kg. It is the same material used in police riot shields. Listening to Stephane Grappelli at the moment , I’m recently getting ino Jazz - previously I was a die hard prog fan - and still am.
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I was also going to ask this. As a Vertere TT owner I was contemplating a Sabre/Dark Sabre.
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It’s difficult to make that call as, like I said my phono preamp had a fault while the Grado cart was on my deck.
However if you pressed me for the answer I would say the Vertere is more composed and the Grado was lively.
The Vertere dark sabre has only had a few hours of playback on it so perhaps in the future I’ll share my review of it.
I still have the damaged Grado ref 3 high output. If in the near future, I have spare cash lying around, I’ll take Grado up on their offer of a discount on a PX for the old cart.
Only then can I do a fair comparison.
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The Grado high-output woody models are a design compromise for compatibility with more phono preamps, to hear the Grado magic in full low-output is the only way.
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I have read this many times. I’m sure you’re right. Even so, the ref 3 was enjoyable even with lack of bass output on my phono pre due to a fault.
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I’ve just heard from a mate that Linn have run short of the Koil cartridge so buyers of the Majik LP12 have been given an upgrade to a Krystal at no additional cost. Makes the Majik a tempting proposition especially if you swap the Krane for an Akito or Ittok and the PSU for a Lingo. I’d be in there like a shot if buying new 
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My Technics SL-1300G is connected to a Pro-Ject Tube Box DS3, which makes it very convenient to switch between the AT ART-9xi MC and a couple of Nagaoka MM cartridges. I’ve had a few vinyl setups previously. This one might be it for some time. I quite like the sound and flexibility.
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I moved from a Thorens TD125+SME 3009 to a Technics 1300G a couple of months ago it’s been one of my best hifi decisions.
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I feel the same way. Fantastic turntable: accurate, robust and easy to use.
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Does the record clamp/puck make a significant difference? Thinking of trying one out on my 1210GR2…
Probably not much difference I’ve never felt the need to do any testing I’ve read some discussion that the weight helps damp out unwanted micro resonances in the vinyl caused by the stylus.
For me it’s more habit to use it as in the centre of the weight is level bubble which provides a quick and easy way to check that the TT remains perfectly level which presumably would have more impact on sonics by throwing anti skate off than anything else.
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The Technics decks are specifically designed around not requiring a clamp. I use one on my other non Technics deck for very thin oil shock era discs but that I don’t.
If the 1300 had existed when I got my 1200GR, I would have done that instead. The pitch control is superfluous to my requirements. Even so, they are amazing sounding decks.
I keep meaning to do the external PSU upgrade but never get round to it.
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One can’t really generalize about record clamps/weights anyway. It is entirely dependent on the turntable (and whether the bearing/motor tolerate the extra weight). Even for a turntable designed for a weight (like mine) different types of weights can sound very different. Some might improve the sound and others might make it worse. I’ve been through several until I settled on the Clearaudio weight designed for my turntable.
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I think we’re on the same page. I have a weight. I use it sometimes on one deck. Tried it on the Technics (which has a strong motor than can support several Kgs in excess of the platter) but found it made it worse and later that it was designed to not use them.
The platter surface and mat also play a role here. On my other deck, the platter and felt mat are flat and the platter somewhat lower mass. On some discs it helps other not. But on the Technics it always made it sound a bit hard. And the slip mats are dished in the centre so a weight pushes down on the unsupported portion of the disc.
So far from writing them off, I soon found it was horses for courses.
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That Tracer tonearm is something. I love it.
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