'Naked' SPU vs 'shelled'

[Gromit]

Am pondering a change of cartridge - I've owned a shelled SPU (a GM Mk2) and loved it, there being something rather magical about its musical presentation. I have been looking at the naked one ie that fits straight into a conventional headshell - question is, does the SPU's shell contribute positively to the cartridge's sound or conversely even hold it back?

It would appear that the naked SPU is a rare beast (excepting the SPU Royal which can be bought as-so) so am wondering if it's more than nostalgia (they do look rather nice, let's admit) which makes folk buy them with the traditional SPU shell. The naked SPU GM E is a fair bit cheaper than the 'full' version too.

Thanks.

 

[pmac]

I can't help with the comparisons you are asking for, but I do have a naked SPU N that I use occasionally. You're welcome to borrow it and draw your own conclusions, if you like?

You could return it to me at Scalford :dunno:

 

[Gromit]

I can't help with the comparisons you are asking for, but I do have a naked SPU N that I use occasionally. You're welcome to borrow it and draw your own conclusions, if you like?You could return it to me at Scalford :dunno:

Wow! That would be very kind of you Paul - thanks. :^

Would be a very worthwhile exercise indeed as I do like the Benz very much, but like to keep an open mind.

I'll pm you my details.

 

[anubisgrau]

if you plan to carry on liking your ACE, don't borrow anything related to SPU.

 

[Gromit]

if you plan to carry on liking your ACE, don't borrow anything related to SPU.

I've had an SPU before, hence the desire to give one a whirl again.

 

[speedysteve]

My SPU Royal N never sang properly until it was married with the heavy headshell version that goes with the FR64s arm. Combined mass 31g.

Until that point I had always favoured the Silver Meister which has a mass of 30g or was it 32g - can't remember!

The Royal N has the Replikant 100 stylus profile which seems very surface noise resistant, not that the Elliptical Meister is noisy, and the Royal tracks 0.5g lighter at 3.5g.