ORTOFON SPU cartridges

[lpman_t]

Hello all, I would like to learn about the ORTOFON SPU cartridges,especially thier pros and cons.The local ORTOFON distributor here could not help me as he has not had any SPU orders and  never auditioned the sound.All he did was to give me a SPU cart.catalogue and inform me that they were expensive.The most expensive one was more expensive than the ORTOFON JUbilee cart.Is there anyone here using or used any of the SPU cart.?I would be glad to learn the sound quality,performance /price comparison and on which arms do they work well? regards, lpman_t

[Damian]

Hi there I can't help but suggest you post this same question over at the Vinyl Asylum (not saying it's better than here or anything, just guessing it'd get a lot of answers quick.. /guessing/). It's at http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/bbs.html Good luck.

[Yosh]

Ortofon SPU I have SPU classic (modern copy of old SPU) &?@mono?@GM Both are fine. But I bought these from my reminiscence of good sounding of SPU back in 1970 that was criterion for reproduction of stereo at the time. Recent models with silver wire etc I have no experience. About SPU, some users in Japan including me try to strip from original plastic shell and remount on more solid type of shell with slant spacer(there were such accessory from Audio Craft and FR) , then the sound becomes more modern. Because the dead mass inside shell is big, the weight of remounted unit becomes lighter. By the way, being the average weight of SPU around 33g with their original shell, the arm to amount SPU shall be high mass and robust type such as Ortofon RMG series or SME 3012 stainless pipe or something like FR or Ikeda. For the moment I use Micro 505, but this wand is not strong enough for these heavy cartridges. Regards Yosh

[lpman_t]

Thank you Damian and Yosh,for your quick replies. Yosh ,can you please compare the sound and tracking performance of your SPUs to some other cartridges ?If I decide to buy a SPU I want to use it with its original shell ,so will the cart. need to be aligned in the shell or is it just plug n play ?I have heard  that the SPUs need heavier tracking forces than most other MC carts.Is that a problem for you and other users in Japan as it may increase the record wear. regards, lpman_t

[Yosh]

Hello lpman t I have Ortofon MC20 and Goldring Eroica and Denon DL-103C1Limited etc. In comparison with these, Ortofon SPU G (G shell with spherical tip) is very neutral and just orthodox as the name Ortofon. IMHO: nothing too much, nothing too less. not bright and straight as MC20 series, but more reliable esp. in playback of old vinyl records. G shell can be plugged in normal arm with SME-type connector as far as 32g pick-up head can be balanced. Note that overhang is usually not adjustable and that the distance from shell connector to stylus is around 52mm. Please select G type shell since A type shell is too short for normal arm and suitable for Ortofon RMA arm only.   The reason why some users in Japan try to change G shell may be 1)      32g head is too heavy 2)      Overhang to make adjustable on shell 3)      The shell is a part of sound to be reproduced. 3g-5g tracking force is not main reason for record wear if stylus itself is not worn. SPU with 3g VTF every vinyl can be traced with no problem. There is a rumor in Japan that SPU series are revived due to strong demand from Japan (SPU lost popularity since high compliance/light mass/light VTG cartridges came into fashion around 1980). Full variety of SPUs (Classic A/AE/G/GE/GT/GTE) as limited products (1000units per model?) were sold in Japan in late eighties. A stands for A type shell (short shell for A type arm such as RMA), E=elliptical tip, G=G shell for normal length of shell for SME-type connection arm, T=with step-up transformer inside shell. I bought G and GTE beside GM which was called as SPU Mono G at the time. About current available models please refer to http://www.ortofon.com/html/body_moving ... _data.html Regards Yosh

[lpman_t]

 Hi Yosh, I thank you very much for your quick and detailed answer which will surely  help me a lot  :) There is also one thing I would like to learn, are  new Lps still pressed in japan? happy listenings regards, lpman_t

[Yosh]

Hi lpman t Glad to hel you someway. LP pressing was discontinued about ten years ago in Japan although there is a small boom of issuing vinyl format along with CD as limited edition for new music mainly Japanese female singers. Now only one company Toray (textile and synthetic  company) can process record production in Japan. Hence some record makers do not request this dometic maker, but go to Palas in Germany etc. No essential press of important music (to my regret)   Regards Yosh

[Piotr]

I have an Ortofon MC30, an MC30 Super and a Denon DL-103. I used SPU:s for a short period a couple of years ago and has to agree with Yosh in that they are very neutral. As Yosh says nothing is to much or to less, but I can miss a bit of the details of the MC30 Ortofons. The basic sound is, in my opinion, a bit like that of the DL-103 although not as much partyfactor. The SPU:s are a reliable choice especially if you play older records or a lot of jazz records. This is my impression of the SPU:s based on, as said above, a rather short period of use.