ortofons don't only give you a great sound but when configured right, they hardly ever skip... i'd say it's worth buying them

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quote:

Originally posted by [BE]FusioN`-- ortofons don't only give you a great sound but when configured right, they hardly ever skip... i'd say it's worth buying them

Depends on which Ortofons and what you are comparing them to. But I agree with you, it's worth getting them.

Cheers
Nem

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define "lousy". It's not just the speakers that are going to matter. How's the amp?

I hook my setup to a Sony HiFi system with a built in amp. Alright the speakers aren't CRAP but they aren't like JBLs, cerwin vegas or anything..

I'm currently using stanton AL-IIs and I'm wondering if I would have been better off dishing out more cash on needles.

I have $1400 JBL speakers, a Denon amp, and when I upgraded from ALII's I really didn't notice that much of a sound quality difference. The new needles were just a bit louder. If your setup isn't all that expensive i wouldn't worry too much about dropping a couple hundred bucks on better needles.

quote:

Originally posted by rafale they aren't like JBLs, cerwin vegas or anything..

jbl pro makes some good stuff, but cerwin vega isn't saying much. The only thing they have going for them, IMHO, is the V152 and V253.

As far as thier consumer line, it's all bass heavy with poor midrange/top end.

heck, even the V152 is bass heavy for a PA cabinet.

It's all about the *real* two way PA cabs... large format compression driver, crossover below 2khz, and easy on the bass response. leave that for the subs!

decent needles are always an investment if you treat them well, keep them clean, never transport them without the cases, etc. I'd say get them if you can afford them.

It's kind of like this.. great needles + crappy speakers = the best possible sound that those crappy things can produce

or, the same as..

hook an 8-track to a wicked stereo system, it's still gonna sound like sh!t, but it will be best sounding 8track on the planet when compared to other setups :)

-=:EPoC:=-

I'd personally buy needles that best suit the system that you're spinning on. It's like buying the most expensive car just to drive down gravel roads. Since you're never going to get to use the preformance of a ferarri then why buy one when a pickup truck will cost you 1/50th the price and will do just a good of a job.

The main reason why I would get better needles is that usually the higher quality stuff has also had research done on it to reduce the wear on your records. That alone should be a reason to justify such a purchase.

Cheers
Nem

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do ALII's really wear the record that badly?

Admittedly probably not massively, but there are other benefits too such as improved tracking. Good equipment is good equipment and you often get what you pay for in this business.
I also always thought that the Stanton stuff sounded a bit 'muddy' in my ears in comparison to the Ortofon stuff.

I would say it's worth upgrading the speakers and stuff too but most of us can't afford to do it in one swoop so I guess the needles is probably as good a place to start as any. Assuming that rafale is using Technics? If not then upgrade the decks before anything else.

Cheers
Nem

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