Ortofon Cadenza Bronze or...?
- Thread starter MikeCh
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- Thread Author
- #42
Roger.
- Thread Author
- #43
Bronze is mounted and playing today. Been thru four and working on five LP's now. Letting it break in.
So far, the sound has been a bit brittle, then very smooth and well rounded, then bright, then brittle, then somewhat smooth, etc.
Figure I'll just play 10 or more LP's and listen occasionally, but not seriously until it softens up some and catches it's stride.
Once again, it seems to boil down to PATIENCE!
So far, the sound has been a bit brittle, then very smooth and well rounded, then bright, then brittle, then somewhat smooth, etc.
Figure I'll just play 10 or more LP's and listen occasionally, but not seriously until it softens up some and catches it's stride.
Once again, it seems to boil down to PATIENCE!
- Thread Author
- #44
On the 9th or 10th record now and the cartridge is starting to become smoother now.
edit: 14 records in and this cartridge is just exceptional! Strings, horns and woodwinds are presented with amazing accuracy/clarity and with all the right weight and timbre.
edit: 14 records in and this cartridge is just exceptional! Strings, horns and woodwinds are presented with amazing accuracy/clarity and with all the right weight and timbre.
After a major mishap and two weeks waiting for repairs on my tonearm (big thank you to Jeff!!), I setup my new Ortofon Cadenza Bronze on my VPI Classic 3 last night. I spent a good deal of time listening last night and since 8am this morning. Like any new cartridge, it needs time to break in. The sound is a little compressed, but I can hear it getting a little better with each LP.
This is definitely one quiet tracker. The sound is one notch to the side of warmth (which is exactly what I like). It is certainly a little more laid back then the Kleos. The Kleos is a very quick, dynamic sounding cartridge.
I noticed that the tracking force is set a little higher with the Ortofon vs the Lyra.
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This is definitely one quiet tracker. The sound is one notch to the side of warmth (which is exactly what I like). It is certainly a little more laid back then the Kleos. The Kleos is a very quick, dynamic sounding cartridge.
I noticed that the tracking force is set a little higher with the Ortofon vs the Lyra.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
After a major mishap and two weeks waiting for repairs on my tonearm (big thank you to Jeff!!), I setup my new Ortofon Cadenza Bronze on my VPI Classic 3 last night. I spent a good deal of time listening last night and since 8am this morning. Like any new cartridge, it needs time to break in. The sound is a little compressed, but I can hear it getting a little better with each LP.
This is definitely one quiet tracker. The sound is one notch to the side of warmth (which is exactly what I like). It is certainly a little more laid back then the Kleos. The Kleos is a very quick, dynamic sounding cartridge.
I noticed that the tracking force is set a little higher with the Ortofon vs the Lyra.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
big congrats to both Mikes!!! smooth is what this cadenza line is all about . sounds awesome at 50 hours but at its best around 100 hours. i was always a big fan of tracking heavy at first to break the cartridge in quicker, but Jeff told me to stop doing that i might hurt the suspension. which i listened to him because i never thought of that.lol. for both the blue on the jmw arm and the black on the ortofon arm, i found they sound best at about 2.5g but after the first 50 hours on both i backed off to about 2.3g and believe the best all around setting for me is right where it is now weighing in at 2.35g.
enjoy your new cartridges and give us a little review after its broke in!!
dlb2
New member
Glad to hear you guys like the new carts. I'm running a Delos and at times think about having something a bit more laid back. I'll keep this line in mind when thinking about a replacement.
- Thread Author
- #50
Something I thought I'd share about this Cadenza cartridge:
I had/have plans to purchase a dedicated mono cart + additional JMW 10.5 arm as a primary while listening to these mono LP's....but now I'm wondering if I should.
Reason? The Cadenza Bronze is fantastic in this role. Not only does it track them well, in many cases there is far less surface noise than I've heard with other stereo carts I've had in the past. Makes me wonder if the stylus profile isn't tracking the groove walls in a manner that these old LP's have never experienced? Even with records that visually look like they'd have lots of pops and clicks due to hairline scratches, sleeve scuffs, etc. from the old paper sleeves, many of them are extremely silent when tracked with this stylus.
Last night I listened to three different Al Hirt mono RCA pressings and was just amazed at how great they all sounded....and with quiet backgrounds to boot. :coolyeah:
I had/have plans to purchase a dedicated mono cart + additional JMW 10.5 arm as a primary while listening to these mono LP's....but now I'm wondering if I should.
Reason? The Cadenza Bronze is fantastic in this role. Not only does it track them well, in many cases there is far less surface noise than I've heard with other stereo carts I've had in the past. Makes me wonder if the stylus profile isn't tracking the groove walls in a manner that these old LP's have never experienced? Even with records that visually look like they'd have lots of pops and clicks due to hairline scratches, sleeve scuffs, etc. from the old paper sleeves, many of them are extremely silent when tracked with this stylus.
Last night I listened to three different Al Hirt mono RCA pressings and was just amazed at how great they all sounded....and with quiet backgrounds to boot. :coolyeah:
audio.bill
Active member
Mike - This cartridge's amazingly quiet tracing of the groove is the first thing I noticed about it after my initial setup, and I have mentioned it in my previous posts. I have listened to more cartridges than I can count and I have never heard one that tracks so effortlessly while eliminating the vast majority of surface noise that I've experienced with other designs. I previously thought that most of this surface noise was inherent to the medium and it all but disappeared with Cadenza Bronze. It's really an amazingly musical performer overall as well as offering an exceptional value that is rare in today's world of ridiculously expensive cartridges. Welcome to the club!
nice!! i always wondered how many mono records you need to have to justify a mono cartridge?? jeff loves that mono cadenza with his mono records, its also very reasonably priced and im planning a second cartridge now, and not sure if i should get the mono cadenza or maybe skip it and get the grado reference 1. but i only own a few mono records
and i dont listen to them very often. so youve given me something to think about. buy more mono records and get the mono cart or just forget it and buy monos anyway get the moving iron. lol.
what mono cart were you thinking about? i also have the option of a mono spu which might be fun.
- Thread Author
- #53
Thanks for confirming my own findings Bill!
- Thread Author
- #54
Hi Steve,
I bet I've got somewhere in the neighborhood of a few thousand mono LPs, with about 1000 or so that I'll likely never listen to (the likes of Paul Williams, Donny Osmond, Jim Neighbors, etc.). Of the ones I enjoy, they mostly are Classical pieces and/or jazz of one form or another.
The original plan was to get an Ortofon 2M Mono so that if I did run across a less than stellar condition mono record that I wanted to play there would be less chance to harm a more expensive cart like the Cadenza Bronze. However, during my culling efforts of this record collection over the past couple of years I've tried to retain, clean and play only the VG+ or better records for the most part. That said, if my recent episode with the Bronze is any indication, it may be all that I need to enjoy this collection for what it is.
holy crap!!!! that many huh, lol thats alot and would definitely justify a mono cart.
i recently (few years ago)lost my entire collection to an evil ex , when she gave them all away
, and im rebuilding slowly now. so i think i own 3 or 4 monos .lol i got a ways to go before i can justify that cartridge.- Thread Author
- #56
Been dealing with a nasty head cold and didn't have much energy to listen to records for the past 5 days or so. Tonight...a different story.
Listening to a Philips Mendelssohn I Musici No.10 and 12 String Symphonies - Netherlands 6580 103 pressing right now and the massed and individual strings from the entire league of the orchestra sound so incredibly natural. The placement of each section and individuals within each section are easily and clearly identified. Their presentation is dynamic not only within their own footprint, but as a whole they are seamless and powerful.
This cartridge makes me smile! I needed this today.
Listening to a Philips Mendelssohn I Musici No.10 and 12 String Symphonies - Netherlands 6580 103 pressing right now and the massed and individual strings from the entire league of the orchestra sound so incredibly natural. The placement of each section and individuals within each section are easily and clearly identified. Their presentation is dynamic not only within their own footprint, but as a whole they are seamless and powerful.
This cartridge makes me smile! I needed this today.
hahaha mike i had a cold not too long ago and my one ear was plugged up , it was so annoying i couldnt even listen to music, i kept thinking my one speaker wasnt working.
glad you enjoying the bronze!!!
- Thread Author
- #58
Hey Mike with the other new Bronze!....how's yours coming along? Anything to share?
As for mine, I'm just tickled with how well it's working out here. It's very involving in my setup and a real joy to listen to with all genres of music and vinyl weights.
As for mine, I'm just tickled with how well it's working out here. It's very involving in my setup and a real joy to listen to with all genres of music and vinyl weights.
Splendid! So musical with just a hint of warmth. I love it.
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audio.bill
Active member
Glad to hear that you are both so pleased with it! Hate to say I told you so, but I knew that you guys would enjoy it as much as I do. Besides providing such quiet tracking and exceptional musical reproduction, I find its value to be stunning in today's world of astronomically priced cartridges.