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Best cartridge

Apologies in advance, since I’m certain that topics like this have been posted ad nauseam.. 

While my digital music collection numbers in the tens of thousands of tracks, my vinyl collection is quite modest (50 or so albums). As a result, I’ve never invested much in my TT setup. I recently picked up a vintage Marantz TT and am interested in an updated cartridge to bring it into the 21st century. I’ve got an NAD PP-3 phono preamp I’ll be using which will feed into my Classe CAP-151 integrated. 

Let’s go on the assumption that I know nothing about cartridges, and please just make your best recommendation for a first upgrade that would represent a good value and work well with my other components. 

If this matters, I’ve found the synergy between my JBL Synthesis HDI-1600‘s & Classe Integrated to be quite laid back compared to my Monitor Audio REF 700 PMC bookshelves, and since I’ll primarily be using the JBL’s, if a cartridge can emphasize HF extension, that’s something I’d be interested in. 

Thanks in advance!
128x128dougeyjones
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@chakster
You are correct regarding the need to use advanced stylii, however your statement regarding compliance is an over-simplification.

But most MM are mid or high compliance by default. And most of the vintage MM are high compliance. However, modern MM are mid compliance or even low-ish like Nagaoka. A high compliance cartridge can stay in the groove even on seriously warped records.

I find your frequent reminders about the high level of technology and materials in best-of-class late 70s early 80s mm and mi carts useful btw.

thanks, I am more than happy with those carts.



dougeyjones's avatar
dougeyjones OP
163 posts
 
It makes intuitive sense to me that cartridges from vinyls heyday would’ve been manufactured with higher QA standards than now, since Vinyl was the prevailing technology of the day. Even if modern manufacturing processes exceed those of yesteryear. 

Cool info. 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Yeah, before the CDs the market for phono cartridges was huge, vinyl was main format in this world. Now digital is main format. 

I was thinking about Tube analogy, obviously even NOS tubes are better than new (most of them). Tube is very simple device, but they can't make even tubes as good as the old ones. And If they can the price will be insane. I am still using pair of 45 tubes from the 1940's (paid about $150 for NOS), brand new replacement from EML in Europe will cost me $600+ for a pair. 
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rauliruegas
13,093 posts
 
Dear @dougeyjones : "  It makes intuitive sense to me that cartridges from vinyls heyday would’ve been manufactured with higher QA standards than now,.... "

Intuitive sense?, maybe to you. In the old times the cartridge main alternative was MM designs and latter on changed to MC alternative.

You can ask Ortofon or Audio Technica or other cartridge manufacturers if in the past they had higher quality control with the overall cartridge building. I own old and today cartridges from the same manufacturer and I can't confirm your " intuitive sense ".
Several things already changed over so many years. If the quality been degraded through the years the LP analog experience just already disappeared and it's not that way. After the LP the cartridge is the main analog audio item, it's the one that rides those LP groove modulations: quality is a must down there.

R.
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