The Gruvy Awards

Hi
I havent found a way to PM you, so please excuse this comment.
I run a small label called TABOU1 and would like to send you our productions.
can you email me your mailing address
thanks

This is the only Gruvy-winner I actually own (sounds great, too!), and I would be interested in Mikey's opinion of the 3-point Rega mounting. Is it "good enough" or does using the traditional 2 bolts and doing a really meticulous set-up make a big enough difference for it to be worth the effort?

I enjoy the 3-bolt mounted sound of this cartridge on my modified NAD 533 and the lack of need for neurotic checking and re-checking. This is especially the case for those of us who are nervous about fiddling with delicate things like cartridge setup. But every now and then, I do wonder...

Thanks so much for the "Gruvy" for our little Liberty B2B-1  Greatly apprectiated !

Peter Noerbaek

PBN Audio

Thanks much for the roundup.  Minor quibble:  The Nitty Gritty 2.0 is the oak-clad manual machine while the 2.5 is the semi-manual you described.

http://www.needledoctor.com/Nitty-Gritty-Model-1-5-Semi-Manual-Record-Cl...

thoughts on the combo of a Traveler w/ Otello?

Any thoughts on the Ortofon Red 2m vs. the Grado Red? I have a Music Hall MMF 2.2 that I am looking to swap out the stock Tracker cartridge. I have been getting great results from it for about the past year with fairly heavy use. But, it is getting time to either replace the stylus or get something different. My local shop is recommending the Grado Red.. but I have not had much experience with either carts. In the past I have used Shure M97's and AT95E's.. and am looking for something a bit better. Will the Grado have issues with the MH motor?? Any advise would be a great help.

I think this is the first list I've read in a dozen or two years that includes equipment I actually own!  Yes, it's been that long since I've seriously upgraded anything.  And I tend to hang on, so what I got this year will likely be around for a decade or two.

Cartridges--2M Black vs. 20X2-H: how is the 20X2-H as a tracker?  Would the Dynavector 17D3 be preferable in that respect?  (I already realize it has more of a "romantic" sound to it, and I'm totally OK with that.)  I want to change things up a bit and might go with an MC cart.

I pulled the trigger on a Traveler/Carmen combo, should be here next week.

Based on the Gruvy award I just ordered the ifi iPhono to go with my Traveler/Grado Sonata 1.  Should be here next week.

I have the one with the big red blinking light in the middle. Having recently upped my digital game with the Auralic Vega, I now find my VPI Scout with Benz Wood SM a little behind my digital experience. Was wondering if you have any thoughts on what would be a reasonable step up. The rest of my chain is ARC LS 26/Simaudio Moon 5.3/B&W 70s. Also, are you going to review the new Phonomena?

Time for me to consider a new cartridge, but not a whole new rig. So the cartridge will have to ride along in an old(ish) Origin-Live modded Rega. Which means, no fine adjustments of SRA and no azimuth adjustments. What's a decent cartridge that isn't too fussy about that sort of thing?

Curious why the JC3+ is not on the Gruvies list but is on the Stereophile A Recommended Components? Vice-versa for the Lehmann Black SEII. Not on Stereophile RC but made the Gruvies list.

What's up with that Mike? :)

Or was this just a one-time thing?

Can I order this in Canada?

The performance in the London ffrr LP of Gershwin is better in every way than the Fiedler performance that Analog Productions has remastered. I have the SACD from a previous remastering and the original issued LP but not the Analog Productions remaster. I cannot comment on the technical merits of the AP issue. However the other two I have are severely limited by the awful interpretations by Fiedler and the quirky piano playing of Earl Wild. My ffrr release from somewhere post 1972, but pre 1980, conducted by Lorin Maazel with Ivan Davis on the piano is dynamic and powerful with wonderful hall acoustics. It is impeccably performed, especially by Ivan Davis. The actual LP itself has a huge soundstage, warm mellow sound, wonderful bass dynamics and is extremely quiet. My copy, bought soon after original release, was mastered by Harry Fisher. Both sides are from the first master lacquer. Side one was from the second metal master, first stamper. The second side is from the fifth metal master, fifth stamper. I wish this performance could be remastered although I can't imagine a better vinyl could be created than the one I have.

Some performances recorded by RCA in their "Living Stereo" series are not of the highest quality. The technical merits of the new AP release may be many and wonderful, but, in the instance of the Fiedler Gershwin, cannot correct for an almost unlistenable performance. Anyone have a similar experience?

Hi Mickey.
It has been a long time since you made the Gruvy Awards.
Don´t you think it´s time to include/exclude some products and give them a new "class" treatment?

I'm considering upgrading from my current Technics SL-D20 with Audio-Technica SL450 P mount cartridge to the P6 with the Exact cartridge. I'm hoping to hear an improvement. I can upgrade later to a MC preamp and a Ania cartridge if I desire. I'm using a Yamaha a-s801 integrated amp with its preamp. My main speakers are a set of EPI 320 T/E with new drivers, and the secondary speakers are Elac 6.2 and two sets of RCA bookshelf speakers and Polk PSW10 subwoofer. Do you have any other suggested TT?

Do you think that using a preamp like the Schiitt Mani would have better sound than the preamp in my Yamaha a-s801 integrated amp?

An update of these awards would be interesting, especially at the lower price points. Thanks

I really need to upgrade from my simple schiit mani, Uturn orbit with grado black setup, if i really want to get into real mindblowing musical experiences

Hi Mr. Fremer,

I actually just e-mailed you asking for some recommendations. Are these still your favorite turntables? Is there a better one in the under $1000 range?

Hi Mr. Fremer,

Hi Mr. Fremer, I actually just e-mailed you asking for some recommendations. Are these still your favorite cartridges? Is there a better one in the under $500 range?

Hi Mr. Fremer,

Hi Mr. Fremer, I actually just e-mailed you asking for some recommendations. Are these still your favorite preamps? Is there a better one in the under $500 range?

Mikey, thanks for all of your hard work getting all of these reviews to everyone. Just wondering if maybe it might be time to update your Gruvy Awards on the phono preamps. Are most of these units still being produced or have they been upgraded? I'm a new member and I love your website. Thanks in advance.

Keep your vinyl record safe and dust-free by elevating it during cleaning.

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Hi,
Have you ever thought about incorporating the Gruvy Award Tonearms category.?
Thank you,

So, after not being on-line for a few years; am I really, or just theoretically, harming my vinyl by cleaning with 20% of 91 pure isopropyl and 80% distilled water?

Hello team Ana\ogPlanet.

Have you ever thought about incorporating the Tonearms category for the Gruvy Award .?

Thanks in advance.

Thanks@

I'm starting to detect needle wear in my Micro Benz Glider SL. I've enjoyed this cartridge and the MB Wood I had before it, but it seems like MB is not really a player in the US anymore. What cartridges in the $800-$1500 range of MC lower output cartridges would have a similar sound? This is on a VPI Scout into Musical Surroundings Nova II/ARC LS26/Simaudio Moon W5.3/B&W 703 system. I would say my taste runs to neutral on the warmth spectrum, decent detail and excellent soundstage. I listen to mostly small group jazz and like a good bass response, life-like instruments and human-sounding vocals.

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