[net.audio] Help: Turntables, Cartridges, etc.

cfp@hou3c.UUCP (Craig F. Preston) (05/29/84)

I'm shopping for a turntable & cartridge, and I'm somewhat bewildered about
where to begin.  I'd like to take this opportunity to ask (read beg) for 
some enlightened commentary about such issues as:  
		belt vs. direct drive
		moving magnet vs. moving coil
		stylus shapes
		*useful* or *meaningful* specs
		all else deemed relevant
I listen to a fairly wide variety of music, but I'm most interested in 
acoustic jazz.  Rest of system (so far):
		Magneplanar MG1 speakers
		Hafler DH110 preamp
		Hafler DH220 power amp
Also, many stores are reluctant to set up cartridges for listening comparisons,
so what do you do?
Misc. other questions:
1) Has anybody had experience with the David Hafler stuff?  What's your 
   opinion/review?
2) Is there any measureable/audible difference between "audiophile" cable and
   standard wire (say 16-gauge)?
3) I'm also in the market for a cassette deck.  Anyone know anything about the 
   Harmon-Kardon CD X91 (X=0,1,2,3,4) series?
4) Any reviews on STAX headphones?

I realize that these issues may have been expounded on ad nasuem in the past,
but I'm new to the net so please bear with me.  Replies to me via mail, or to
net.audio if your comments are of general interest.  Any assistance rendered
is much appreciated.

					Craig Preston
					AT&T Bell Laboratories
					Holmdel, NJ
					{ihnp4,allegra,harpo,ulysses}!hou3c!cfp