2. analog
  3. 1050095845

best sounding cartridge with VPI Scout Turntable

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A VPI ARIES SCOUT TURNTABLE WITH A
JMW-9 TONEARM ,AND A DYNAVECTOR MOVING MAGNET
KARAT 17D2 CARTRIDGE. I AM USING A PAIR OF QUAD 988'S
A MARANTZ SACD PLAYER WITH THOR AUDIO PREAMP AND THOR MONO BLOCKS. THE SOUND WHEN USING THE MARANTZ PLAYER IS GREAT, WHETHER IT BE CD OR SACD. WHILE PLAYING STATE OF THE ART
180-200 GRAM VINYL RECORDS THE SOUND SEEMS THIN IN COMPARISON TO TH CD PLAYER. ALSO I MUST TURN THE GAIN UP
WITH THE TURNTABLE IN USE TO GET THE SAME FIDELITY THAT I RECEIVE WITH THE SACD PLAYER IN THE LOOP. WOULD A HIGH OUTPUT MOVING COIL CARTRIDGE IMPROVE THE SOUND QUALITY. I AM
LOOKING TO FIND OUT WHY SO MANY SAY VINYL SOUNDS BETTER THAN
REDBOOK CD AND SACD. I FIND REDBOOK CD WITH THE MATRANTZ
SUPERIOR TO MY VPI SCOUT SET UP MENTIONED ABOVE. I HAVE THE
TURNTABLE ON A BLACK DIAMOND SHELF. WOULD A BETTER CARTRIDGE MAKE A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE. THANKS.
kjl
fefer77
37 posts
 
Check your VTA.
twl
3,251 posts
 
As Jax2 says, the Dynavector 17d2 is a low output MC cartridge, not MM. You likely using the wrong input on your phono stage. You'll need probably the highest gain setting the unit has to accept the Dynavector's low output.
tphalieros
39 posts
 
If, after you tried the recomendations of the very knowledgeable fellows above, you still have the problem of body-less sound, give the wood-body Grado's a try. They feature a ripe well rounded midrange.
kevin66
18 posts
 
Sounds like you don't have enough gain for your pre-amp. Quicksilver Audio makes a step-up transformer for $450. This device will boost the gain of your cartridge and adjust the impedence so you can use it with moving magnet phono stage (which 90% of them are).
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