Happy Goldring 1042 user here, purchased from yourself. Fitted in an Ariston RD40 with OL arm & motor. My previous Goldring had been G800 on a pair of BSR MP60 decks I used for DJ’ing in the 1970s.

Hi Phil , great and interesting video, 40 years ago I had shure 75 Ed, in my Dual 505 mk2 when I first got into hifi,it had good bass reponse as I remember, regards mark

i actually dropped my sondek straight down on my brand new audiotechnica mc last year bent the cantalever it was a bad day lol....

I remember having a Grado on my Dual S502 2 & also a mission mm as well. When I got my LP12 I started with a Linn K9 7 now have a Goldring 1042 that had stylus replacement about 5yrs ago.

I am one of the 1 in 20. I broke a Jico SAS Xirconia stylus fitted to a Shure V15-IV. When I went to replace it, it was no longer listed on the Jico site. I found that LP Gear here in the US had some stock so was able to replace it. It’s a great stylus.

transducers, things that change the type energy, cartridges - squggles to electricity, or speakers - electricity to wobbles, are the hardest things to engineer.

Soundsmith are available in the UK via Origin Live, including the Otello.

Ortofon Kontrapunkt B & C fantastic cartridges, no mention of Dynavector, Shelter, VDH and last but not least Denon - I'm on my 3rd DL103 just love it.

I broke the stylus on my Soundsmith Otello (2020 "fixed coil"/"moving iron") cartridge. There. I've said it. I don't even know what I did, other than probably stored it sloppily and it either got banged around in the case or I snagged it when removing it. I am a noted klutz. Fortunately, the company (for $100) will allow you to send it back to them in Peekskill, NY, and they will rebuild it properly. I did, and they did. I do like the presence of the Otello, and I'd be curious about moving up the line, but I think the next step up is twice the price so maybe not.

I bought my first CD player from Lewis's! Long gone and much missed. Shopping has gone down hill now.

The R100 and A&R both used a generator made by Namiki. It remains popular today in cartridges like the Sumiko Pearl and Vertere Sabre

I use nagaoka mp15 on my deck and being a classic cartridge but still sounds good

An Audiophile conversation we can all relate to: "My first Naim system was a 90 and 92 back in 91, a CD3.0 and TD160 (with a 744) into 804's before upgrading to a 102..then an 82 (fitted with 522's for the 160) into a 250 driving 803's...swapped the 82 for a 52 and the 250 for 135's into 802's. Finally i had reached audio nirvana...huge bottom end, grip, speed, pace, a smooth high end without fatigue....height, scale, dynamics, depth, separation... So i sold it all on ebay."

Early 80s I had ADC vlm and then xlm on my Rega Planar 3

i always used Audio Technica cartridges AT-VM95EN/H , they sound great and are the easiest to fit!

Very enjoyable…thank you…👍

Love these kind of content, getting to know the backstory of products and companies, bit of hifi history really. And I really love your relaxed stance regarding hifi, after all it is just about lifeless objects that we use to replay music in our homes. Here is a quick question and regarding your huge experience on Regas I am really looking forward to your reply, I use a latest (a month old) Rega Planar 1 on which from the start I have installed the upgraded Rega glass platter and an Ortofon 2m Red. Which are the highest quality of MM or MC cartridges that this deck can carry?

My first decent cartridge was the Ortofon MC15 mark ii. For a budget MC, it was a stonker. Great tracking, tidy bass and loads of musicality. For some reason it was discontinued around 2001 which was a real shame. I've tried the new 2m range, all the way up to the Black and found them far too 'hifi' sounding and almost CD-like. I've used a Goldring 1042 for the past 20 years, on and off and would highly recommended it for its big, bold and beefy sound and amazing tracking ability.

Somewhere Downunder is a late 80s Rega 3, playing with a Linn Basik LVV - the NZ distributor of the time assembled Regas from a kit of bits due to import taxes, and was fitted with a Nagaoka MP15 cartridge. I acquired the deck a couple of years ago, needing a light refurb. Kept the LVV as the mounting centres didn't work for other things I had, and bought the MP15 a MP200 stylus out of Japan. Plays beautifully, the MP series are very pleasant. PS thanks for your posts, keep on. Cheers from NZ :)

Nagaoka MP-150 - superb cartridge. Well-Tempered sell a slightly modded version of it too to go with their phono stages.

AUDIO-TECHNICA Precept 110 , from 1981 fantastic cart , as are all AUDIO-TECHNICA carts , the budget orientated VM 95 EN, ML and SH can't be beaten at that price point. The VM530 and 540 are also wonderful carts. Without spending silly money 💰.

Origin Live has a rebadged Soundsmith cartridge in their line, but it would probably be a good thing if someone started importing to the UK. The reason some of the cartridges were based on a B&O stylus is that Peter Lederman, Soundsmith founder got into the cartridge business by becoming an authorized B&O repair facility when B&O stopped cartridge production. From there he went on to designing and manufacturing Soundsmith’s own line. Soundsmith will also repair and upgrade cartridges from other manufacturers. I’m considering a Soundsmith when I decide to move my Shure/Jico into system #2.

I've broken a stylus. Only once about 20 years ago.

I broke the stylus on my first turntable. Easy to replace. There! I said it

I had an old Astatic MF 200 cartridge, unfortunately styluses are no longer available for it. Now I run an AudioTechnica VM540ML on my Denon DP-57L Turntable. It’s a very nice sounding cartridge that doesn’t break the bank

Great video!

Phil. It’s a resort in Kefalonia Greece where I go on holiday each year. 😂😂

removeable head shells and lots of different cartridges is a sign of severe OCD ...I've met them , they do have issues. The Asak was very coloured , lots of resonaces going on in the body which is why you didnt like the Troika

I have Ortofon ,AT,Grado on Headshells for my Technics Sl 1200 with no problem Have 2 Goldring with the same fault,Goldring Elan and a 1040,both died in one channel,have tried them with new cables headshells and on other turntables,ground hum in the ”dead” Channel Thanks from Sweden

Hi Phil, I'm kinda surprised that Dynavector didn't get a mention, as they were quite popular at one time. I recall owning the 10X I think it was called, which was a high output moving coil, not a technology you approve of. It had a bright red plastic body and an extraordinary long cantilever which I was constantly fearful of damaging. I believe they also made a model with solid ruby cantilever ? Regardless, I always look forward to your videos.

Soundsmith are advertised at Audio Emotion Leven, Fife, Scotland on thier website. Starting at 399 pounds. No connection to me, I just shop there as they are very close by and give a five star service.

Suprised you never mentioned Supex

I would like to upgrade my ortofon red. It was standard on my project debut cardon turntable. Any suggestions ?

Still using my Kontrapunkt B.

Linn asak is a supex 1000 in Linn's body.

I stupidly knackered my Ania Pro just after it was fitted.. im more careful now

Ok, Phill... your cartidge fell apart on it's on. You didn't break it, it breaked itself. Alright, Alright, it happens... 😂

Wot no Karma? 😮

How does Linn’s Adikt rate and is it made by Goldring?

Dynavector ? ? ?

I have mcos7 is it good

I have a heck of a time understanding you. Sorry.

You made a statement, without backing it up, that detachable headshells are a disadvantage. Can you prove that is a fact ? Or did you mean qualify it with 'I think....'