Topic Options
Copyright © 1998
Cadman Enterprises Ltd
Welcome to the Graham Slee Audio Products Owners Forum  Open to all owners plus those contemplating the purchase of a Graham Slee HiFi System Components audio product and wishing to use this forum's loaner program: join here (Rules on posting can be found here) This website along with trade marks Graham Slee and HiFi System Components are owned by Cadman Enterprises Ltd |
Audio Technica cartridges (MM) |
Post Reply 
|
Page <123> |
| Author | |
Lucabeer 
Senior Member 
Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: Torino, Italy Status: Offline Points: 719 |
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote Reply
 Posted: 29 Jan 2014 at 8:06am |
|
I got an "offer I couldn't refuse" for an AT440MLa... which should be an improvement even on the AT95E due to its specially shaped stylus.
I'll let you know my impressions next week when it arrives, although I bet it will only really shine when the Reflex M will arrive too! |
|
 |
|
|
morris_minor
Moderator Group 
Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 6197 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 29 Jan 2014 at 10:33am |
|
I had a 440MLa for a while. Great cartridge, really detailed sound. Unfortunately, mine generated a lot of hum, and on returning it to the dealer it was found to be defective. I'm afraid I declined a replacement and moved on to a new-old-stock Pickering cartridge . . . But I'm sure yours will be fine!
|
|
|
Bob
Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
|
|
|
|
Lucabeer
Senior Member
Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: Torino, Italy Status: Offline Points: 719 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 07 Feb 2014 at 10:56pm |
|
Got the 440MLa today. Nice cartridge, lots of detail compared to the previous one! A bit bright maybe... No, not bright... because mids and bass are perfect: simply now I notice highs (cymbals and snares) which previously were "hidden". I have read that it gets warmer with some burning in, though. It's incredible how well it tracks with very little surface noise at a mere 1.4 grams, anyway!
|
|
|
|
|
Lucabeer
Senior Member
Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: Torino, Italy Status: Offline Points: 719 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 Feb 2014 at 9:01pm |
|
After 30 hours, the AT440MLa is starting to shine, with the top end getting more mellow and tamed. Personally I found that going from 1.4 to 1.5 gave me a good improvement, and now it sounds perfectly to my taste. Good tight bass, and detailed but not fatiguing high frequencies. And did I mention the great tracking? Now enjoying Random Access Memories by Daft Punk, and previously Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers!
Edited by Lucabeer - 11 Feb 2014 at 9:03pm |
|
|
|
|
Lucabeer
Senior Member
Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: Torino, Italy Status: Offline Points: 719 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 Feb 2014 at 10:47am |
|
At approximately 100 hours, the AT440MLa is definitely sounding great, and with the Reflex M it's a very nice match. The slight brightness of the first hours has completely disappeared, and now it's very balanced with nice bass (powerful but tight) and detailed but not fatiguing highs. No inner groove distortion at all (well, just a bit with some very old and worn vinyls, like "The long and winding road" from a 40 years old and heavily played copy of The Beatles 1967-1970... but I suspect that might be due to groove wear). It tracks like a champ, even on records which had been skipping before (such as the very problematic "The woman in red" by Stevie Wonder).
Only minor complaint: the microline stylus tends to catch all sort of crap which might be hiding in the grooves, so please clean your vinyls well. Overall I am very satisfied by this cartridge, and while it must be aligned well to give its best, it was not particularly hard to do so with the correct tools. If you have some cash to spend (not much compared to the crazy prices of MC, actually), give it a try and give it time to mellow out before judging it. |
|
|
|
|
fixedwheel
Regular 
Joined: 28 Feb 2014 Location: West Sussex Status: Offline Points: 42 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 10 Mar 2014 at 2:19pm |
|
Great to have a detailed review.
Much like anybody else, I think the AT-95e is a stonking bargain at the entry level, but it is nice to know more about the next level up, where the extra funds do seem to buy a lot of extra performance. And with a cartridge lasting for a 1,000 - 1,500 albums, it's not the kind of thing you do often enough to do many side-by-side comparisons Cheers John
Edited by fixedwheel - 11 Mar 2014 at 9:42am |
|
|
Cheers
John |
|
|
|
|
Lucabeer
Senior Member
Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: Torino, Italy Status: Offline Points: 719 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 11 Mar 2014 at 9:35am |
|
Yes, I would definitely recommend the 440MLa! By the way, after break-in period, I have reverted to the recommended 1.4 grams. No need to go to 1.5 (although manufacturer says that up to 1.8 grams is fine).
Only "complaint" so far, is that it's VERY sensitive to dust/dirt on the vinyl, due to the slim profile of the stylus and its large contact area. On the other hand, it handles old and worn records very well. |
|
|
|
|
Post Reply
|
Page <123> |
Tweet
|
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.
This page was generated in 0.070 seconds.
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.
This page was generated in 0.070 seconds.