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Sansui Turntable - Cartridge? [message #11907]

Tue, 08 February 2005 08:05

igloomaster
Messages: 3
Registered: May 2009

Esquire

Hi Folks. I own a mid-70s Sansui SR-222 Turntable. A very simple & basic spinner - - it's in top working condition as it's been fully serviced, and it sounds pretty good. I bought it for "a song" at a local repair shop. The technician installed a Stanton 500EMKII cartridge/stylus, which sounded decent, but I improved upon this when I switched to a Grado Black. More detail to my ears.
My question is this: I realize that the "Black" is the entry-level Grado. Will I be wasting my $ if I try to upgrade yet again? Have I hit the wall (because of this model of Sansui) or will I hear even more detail with higher end Grados, Ortofons, Shure...etc ? I'm willing to spend a few bucks on a great cartridge; as I said, I picked up the table for a song and it is in top working condition.

Also, another chap recommended perhaps adding some weight to the platter by putting some heavy modeling clay on it's underside. Anybody have any thoughts on the matter? Will this be too much for the motor/belt?

Thanks!!

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Re: Sansui Turntable - Cartridge? [message #11908 is a reply to message #11907]

Tue, 08 February 2005 09:07

Manualblock
Messages: 4973
Registered: May 2009

Illuminati (13th Degree)

Take some crazy glue and with a toothpick carefully glue the plastic stylus body to the cartridge body. This will improve 100%; just be carefull and of course you will not have a replaceable stylus anymore. That's all I would do; you will not hear a difference with clay on the platter. Just do a real carefull cartridge set-up and alignment.

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Re: Sansui Turntable - Cartridge? [message #11909 is a reply to message #11908]

Tue, 08 February 2005 09:20

igloomaster
Messages: 3
Registered: May 2009

Esquire

Hi thanks for writing! Sorry, but I'm confused (easy to do!)

I should "glue" the black grado plastic needle holder thing to the body of the cartridge? and that improves it? how?

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Re: Sansui Turntable - Cartridge? [message #11911 is a reply to message #11909]

Tue, 08 February 2005 12:27

Manualblock
Messages: 4973
Registered: May 2009

Illuminati (13th Degree)

On the microscopic level where the record grooves lie, the sloppiness(and you can feel this) in the pins that hold the stylus in the cartridge body translate out to big and loose tolerances. When you glue it tight those tolerances become more accurate tracing of the groove. It is not a small difference, some of these guys who claim to mod cartridges, thats what they do and it sounds much better.
Here's one, a cross-bar mounted on the outer body of the cartridge front. Made of tiny brass I-beam that is used for model railroad track. It helps stabilise the cartridge on difficult to track passages, acts as a torsional counterwieght.

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