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Re-discovering Vinyl: Effective Mass of Linn Basik Plus (or LVX+) Tonearm??

Hello, I've been searching here for a couple weeks as I am looking to
get a new cartridge to replace the 19 year old Sonus Dimension 5 and
20 year old AT122LP cartridges. (these have been sitting unused for
12-15 years and though 'working' they have problems)

I've searched for the Linn Basik Plus Arm Effective Mass so I can
narrow my choice on replacement cartridges, but can't find anything.

(The Linn FAQ does not list info on the Basik Arms)
If anyone has a clue that would be great.
10 grams? more? less? I'm only guessing....

Right now I'm leaning towards the Ortofon OM30
(....based only on what I've read, not heard... scary for me!)

Any other suggestions are welcome.....

I just love the sound of my old Sonus Dimension 5! but the suspension
is shot. The Audio Technica 122LP I have sounds OK, if I recall it
has a 'shibata' stylus and manages to get amazing detail from my
old Thrift Store LP's!! But the sound is not to my taste (as I recall
it wasn't in 1985 either) being a bit forward and 'hifi' sounding
in the upper frequencies. The Sonus is much better in this regard,
still getting the detail, more coherent soundstage and much smoother top end. When I got it, I remember liking it better than the current
Shure V15. (I don't remember was it III, IV, or V)

My re-discovery of vinyl is in special thanks to David Hafler as I
found one of his DH-110 preamps at the thrift store a few weeks ago.
I plugged it into my then using NAD 340 integrated amp just to make
sure it worked. I was simply amazed that replacing the preamp of the
NAD 340 made such an improvement in the sound! Soundstage opened up,
depth and detail. It was magical and I kept switching it in and out
in dis-belief!

I heard the 110 had a good phono Preamp, so I got my 1984 Vintage AR
turntable out (the one with the handsome wood base).
.....Since then I have been wasting alot of time enjoying old LP's
and stunned at how good it all sounds.

So right now my system consists of:

??? cartridge ??? Sonus Dimension 5
Linn Basik Plus (LVX+) Arm
Hafler DH-110 preamp
Hafler DH-220 Amp
NEAR 15MII speakers

(all vintage 1984 stuff except the Speakers)
Right now this Vinyl setup is easily beating my CD in soundstage,
coherence, detail. It just sounds more real and natural, surface noise withstanding. It's strange now I'm feeling the onset of
Audiophilia Nervosa and also ripped off by my vast collection
of CD's while listening to a 1977 vinyl recording of Verdi's Otello
I paid .30c for at the thrift store.

I've read most of the comments about various choices of
cartridges (MM, or high output MC in the under $200 range)
This is as far as I can go right now with it and hope the
recent spat of Nervosa subsides with this medication.
(Then I can go back to listening to music again)

ALSO, a thanks to the Van den Hul Site for the super
advice and answering most of my questions.
(specifically VTA adjust and removing the extra 'matching caps'
really improved the sound.)
Raising the back of the arm really made things snap into focus.

I just registered here today, and want to thank you all for such
a great site! The last time I was looking into Audio upgrades there
was only AudioReview.com! At that time Audio Asylum was just getting
started.

Thanks and Kind Regards,
Gary Frost




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Topic - Re-discovering Vinyl: Effective Mass of Linn Basik Plus (or LVX+) Tonearm?? - G.Frost 13:00:47 01/27/04 (7)


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