Anyone try out the new Ortofon Q-bert's?

**adobostreak** · 09-09-2005

just released

- 11-12mV output
- supposed to rival the M44-7 in skip resistance
- amazing sound quality

anyone know how the record wear is on these babies?

**Menas** · 09-09-2005

That was supposed to be one of the selling points, lower record wear than m44-7s.

I haven't tried them yet, but as soon as I save up enough money, I'm definately gonna buy 'em. Unless someone tries them first and says they aren't as good as Shure...

**Deft** · 09-09-2005

I don't really know how a scratch cart can have great sound quality as you will knacker the stylus in the first hard session.
I suppose it can sound better overall but the quality will drop off quickly once you are using them properly.

**djobserv** · 09-14-2005

yeha my friend said they stick super good. the output is super loud and clear! just the price is a bit crazy. they got to test the qbert prototypes at his place in hawaii.

**vinylViking** · 09-15-2005

I'm a bit worried about the mad output of these carts. I mean, I've got records that are well into the red on the vu even with zero gain. How will this work out when I play em with carts that are over double the output of the ones I use now?

**adobostreak** · 09-15-2005

they probably will destroy your speakers

**vinylViking** · 09-15-2005

Ok.. I should have guessed they'd clip like sh1t. Uhm.. So I suppose I'd be better off with the q-bert needles on a elektro-cart or something then? Same tracking, lower output?

**Deft** · 09-16-2005

Although not 'test' conditions, the Q-Bert carts were not very skip-proof when I used them at Plasa.
I don't see a whole lot of reasons to switch over from the trusty m44-7 really.

**adobostreak** · 09-16-2005

did you have enough time to decide how good the sound and record wear was?

**Deft** · 09-16-2005

No, but like I said - what's the point of worrying over sound quality on a cart used for scratching? You pretty much remove any chance for nice sound the moment you start scratching. Maybe if all you do is the odd baby scratch once a month, but I don't see a lot of reasons to switch otherwise.
It's just marketing nonsense - they already have the pink scratch cart.
They weren't sticking very well at any tracking force I tried - and this was on a straight Vestax arm.