Maybe farewell Decca & New cart?

Hi All,

Not written for a while.

Im probably going to sell my Decca Blue
More of which later.

Im looking for recommendations of a new high output cartridge
to be used with my WAD phono-II stage. It will be mounted
in a hadcock arm on an LP12.
Ive read a lot of good comments about the Goldring range
of carts 1024 etc. Is there anything else worth considering
around the £150 mark and who potentially would
give the best price.

So the Decca...
Im afraid with my new valve pre power there is just too
much hum. Its not that severe but it is noticeable at high
volume. It never seemed to be an issue with my old solid
state hifi. Ive tried an old moving magnet body and its virtually silent
so its defo the cartridge.

Its very sad, Ive only just had the Decca rebuilt at a cost by
John Wright to see if it was an internal cartridge problem.
The Decca is still the most realistic cartridge Ive ever heard.
If I did decide to sell it I would let you know first. Would
anybody here be interested?

Thanks,
Matthew

[John T]

The trouble is Matthew, once you're used to the Decca sound, you'll find it difficult to like anything else!!

BTW, are you sure it's the cartridge that's causing the hum. I know they are susceptible to hum pick-up - I remember the problems with the Garrard 301/401 - but should have thought it unlikely with the LP12.

Unfortunately it is the cartridge.
Deccas can be a bit 'hummy' from searching
the web.
As I said with a solid state phono stage all was well.
Ive tried an old ortofon cart and its silent. It must
be something to do with the electrical properties of
cart itself.
Your right in that a Decca is hard to better in some
areas.

Is it worth paying the extra for the Goldring
1024 over the 1006? Is there anything else
worth considering?

Thanks,
Matthew

[Dave_The_Vinyl_Junkie]

I haven't heard the Goldring unfortunately (haven't heard a Decca either for that matter), but going on what others say, I suspect it will be very different to the Decca.

Thing is, as John T says, the Decca will have a unique quality to it which you will have got used to, and there is a risk that moving on to something else might give rise to disappointment. I've been there - my own favourite cartridge remains the Music Maker, it's a very love/hate relationship, documented on this and the previous boards, because it can go unstable with some records due to its compliance characteristics. I have a couple of MC's, and although they are stress-free, I just can't get as excited about their sound. The ideal test for you would be to try the alternative cart + WAD phono against the Decca + solid state phono.

In terms of alternative cartridges, I'd be looking at the Grado Prestige Gold. It's £40 under your budget and I think it would be a good match for your Hadcock.