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Posted by Djstigma on Dec-13-2002 23:47:

Buying new Needles

I want to get new new needles for my TT's but I have no idea what one's to get? I'm looking into the Ortofon Concorde Nightclub, but at $219 each is abit expensive is there any other needles that is comparable but less expensive? Thanks for the help...

Posted by shompton on Dec-14-2002 00:14:

Get headshell mountable carts man. Look at the Shure 44G's.

Posted by Devbert on Dec-14-2002 01:29:

Just get the Ortofon Concorde DJ's. There cheaper and they kick ass.

Posted by mikefasssy on Dec-14-2002 05:49:

m44-7 are ze best!

Posted by DjJade on Dec-14-2002 19:49:

http://www.stores.ebay.com/id=23725700

Posted by Luke Terry on Dec-14-2002 20:21:

concordes rule supreme, i love mine, although neo will argue in favour of the stantons, but i'm sure he works for stanton

Posted by EldamRy on Dec-14-2002 22:23:

try a pair of Groove master II !

Posted by MERiDiAN5i2 on Dec-16-2002 22:32:

check eBay, there has been some real steals on ortofons going around there, some used some new. go new, screw used carts.

i'd agree - get the blue ortofons, and dont get the concordes.

sure they look cool.. BUT. the headshell (OM series) will track better, and the original headshell will provide a more reliable connection to the tonearm (the concordes dont really mount as solidly as the headshells, i hear, but ive never had a problem with concordes, YET)

the OM series is cheaper. certinaly a plus.

and, dont go elliptical. spherical tends to wear the records a bit less, and you can scratch on then (scratching on E carts is ill advised) - E carts are good for live gigs though - they track better than S carts, and have better frequency response.

IF you decide against ortofons... check out the Shure M44G, they are badass! they sound almost as good as the ortofons and certainly track better... even at lower tracking forces.

Posted by tamtui on Dec-16-2002 23:20:

shure white label

HMMM somebody said these rock and their new.

Might as well try em out if you are buying.

Posted by Dj Flesch on Dec-17-2002 00:10:

I have the Shure Whitelabels. I don't have anything to compare it too, but I really like it so far. It tracks well for studio use--I use 2.5g. It has less bass response than I would perfer, and the volumes that come out of there are very different than my cds, but I'm still playing around with settings etc. to see where that difference is coming from.

Posted by wezzman on Dec-17-2002 09:39:

I have Ortofon Nigthclub (not the Concorde version) and i am satisfied with them!

Posted by MERiDiAN5i2 on Dec-17-2002 17:36:

my nightclubs sound really nice.. but they seem to jump grooves pretty easy. i love the crisp highs.

nightclub at 4 grams - tends to skip during hard backcueing, and any sort of scratching
my other needles, Shure M44Gs, at 2.5g, RARELY skips. can scratch on them.

the nightclubs certainly sound better than the M44Gs.. but the M44Gs are so much easier to deal with - the highs blend together easier, and they dont skip.

I think I might end up getting fresh sylii for the old M44Gs and get rid of the nightclubs - i'm kind of annoyed by them, I figured they would track better.

I also notice, that with the concorde, I cant get a proper anti-skate adjustment. using the flat (no grooves) side of a promo record I cant get the needle to balance in the center of the record using the antiskate - with headshell cartridges this is no problem. I would guess if I have an OM nightclub headshell cart, it'd work

another disadvantage of the concordes is the lack of a headshell weight - with my headshell carts I can put a 3g puck between the cartridge and headshell, and balance it out with the tonearm aux weight, and put the weight where it belongs - on the headshell to keep it in the groove and increase mass (more mass = takes more effort to move = less groove-hoppin)

yea.. groove holding power is important
-mer

Posted by Djstigma on Dec-19-2002 04:36:

Thanks

Thanks for all your help. You guys really know your stuff...

Posted by fr0st on Dec-21-2002 02:47:

Well i think i have tested just bout every needle and i have found out that the ortofon scratch has worked the best for me the last longer the the nightclubs and have the same sound quality, i think they have even a deeper base, but then again im not sure but it sure sounds like it...stanton needles last a hell of a lot longer though but dont sound as good imo.
peace,

Posted by MERiDiAN5i2 on Dec-21-2002 10:43:

interesting.

so do the ortofon scratch needles actually hold the groove?

i picked up a set of concorde nightclub S carts.. they sound SO nice but skip like a mofo.. i mean, to the point of not even being able to cue without being really careful... and this is at 4 grams!!! no way in hell i could scratch on them..

my shure M44Gs dont sound as good.. but damn, they hold they groove better at HALF the weight...

i can only imagine running a needle at 4+ grams isnt too good for record wear

Posted by fr0st on Dec-21-2002 14:32:

Yeah the ortofon scratch works great for me and sounds awesome too.

Posted by Nrg2Nfinit on Dec-21-2002 15:20:

I have stanton AL II 500s and most my records sound like rice crispies

i suggest shure needles any kind.. they are the gentlist on vinyl from what i hear