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Re: ADC XLM Mk II/ ADC XLM Mk II Improved VS Shure V15 III? Any advice?


My personal experience with the V15 III, is ancient, but I 'd set up a Thorens TD 125 SME 3009 series III(Ultralight eff mass) carrying
a V15 III with a NOS Shure Elliptic. Stylus he left it at my house for 3 wks and I listened to it quite a bit and I thought the V15 III and the SME III were made for each other literally(I think that was the case but not certain ?) and figuratively.

I never ran my ADC XLM Mk II on his arm, but I have limited experience with the XLM MK II on my TD 125 SME III and I was a bit disappointed, as I had mistakenly assumed the MK II
was essentially the same cartridge as my original XLM, I was unable to find an XLM stylus so picked up the NOS XLM II (or II improved which version escapes me) I did some research and discovered that the XLM was a higher compliance cartridge and found that even after compensating for the lower compliance value of the II, it just didn't really do it for me, like the XLM, I wish I could give you some sonic details / specifics, but this was 2 or more years ago.

My vote would be to go with the Shure at least for starters, your Dual 701 has a detachable head shell arraignment, no ? If that's the case and I think it is, you should snag at least 1 other head shell and try your ADC XLM II or II Imp, you may very well
prefer that as there is such a wide spectrum of systems, rooms,
which cartridge on which arm set up which way, we all have differing tastes.

" I also want something that tracks incredibly well...so as to mitigate the damage to my software "

I'm assuming that you're either reletively new to Vinyl and or the anal retentive from hell ? In either or both cases the idea of your Vinyl being damaged from any of these cartridges with a quality sound stylus or just about any decent cartridge/stylus as far as the differences in relative inherent tracking is way over the top / completely unwarranted as any number of cartridges the OM 20 doesn't track as masterfully as for instance a Shure V15xMR, in fact the OM 20 isn't what I call anything but an so so tracker, but having said that it just means that once in a great while you may hear some subtle distortion attributable to mistracking on a challenging passage on the inner groove, that you know your V15xMR could track with ease, but there is no real damage, I think OM 20's sound really wonderful particularly on systems that may be a tad on the dark side
some may find it a bit bright on their system and or to their ear

I had an OM 20 although I tweaked the cantilever last year and replaced with a 40, but I wouldn't hesitate to play my most cherished now unobtanium record with an OM 20.

You have to take a lot of this stuff with a grain of salt there are folks on here that have to take double doses of Ativan over anxiety issues over their concerns eating away at them over the possibilities suspension hardening in their spare
Stylus assembly which is vacuumed packed in an underground cryogenic suspension chamber.

After all this place isn't called the Asylum over iambic pentameter conventions.

Clean your records properly initially store them properly maintain them with CF Brushes, keep a clean sound stylus as in keep track of the operating hours (with a cheap golf stroke counter)and do reletively careful cartridge set ups and your Vinyl will still sound engaging when you have a colostomy bag and are on Oxygen.

Kind Regards FredJ




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  • Re: ADC XLM Mk II/ ADC XLM Mk II Improved VS Shure V15 III? Any advice? - Fred J 08/31/0617:13:14 08/31/06 (0)


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