Here have been my thoughts so far:
The Audio Technica - seem like they may really present some great sound at a good value. Found NOS AT150MLX for $479 which might be worth it just to try that series. Also the new VM760SLC seems to be the replacement. Anyone have experience with either.
1) AT cartridges are great for sure (you can’t go wrong with any of them).
My favorite are AT-ML170 and AT-ML180 OCC, those are different from any new AT (MM) design because of their unique Boron Pipe and Beryllium Pipe cantilevers and anti-resonance ceramic base. AT discontinued those models in the 90s, recently I bought a few NOS samples. MicroLine stylus. They are definitely very expensive, NOS stylus alone cost nearly $1k. I like those cartridges very much.
*** If you will search audiogon you will find these QUOTES from the Audiogon contributors (let me post it here from my old notes I made when I was in the market for a decent MM):
"Today I received all the pieces of Audio Technica AT-ML170 LC-OFC. Body from Japan and NOS original stylus from elsewhere in the USA. For the first hour at 1.5g or so it is the best tracker I’ve ever had, really clings. Will continue further run-in and evaluation. Thanks Raul!" - Siniy123
"Buying a used AT-ML170 was the best analog move I’ve ever done. Second best, buying a used DV 10xGoldL. Two reference carts that will blow away carts costing $$$$$ more." - Kiko65
"The 103Fl with the Paratrace stylus is my top MC. Better than my $3500 Benz Micro Ruby 3. Where it falls a little short is when it gets compared with MM/MI’s like my Signet TK10ML MK2, TK7CLa/155LC Sonus Dimension 5 or the AT ML170". - Don
"In my experience, AT ML-170 OCC is one of the must to have cartridges (MC or MM) along the 180 OCC." - Raul
"I also owned an AT ML-170 at one time. This was one of the best ones I ever heard,near the Signet TK10.Anyway, just my take on these models." - Travbrow
"The AT 170 ML is fantastic at letting me hear, study, and analyze the tone of a particular instrumentalist on a recording; I can’t think of any MC thatI have owned that would let me do that to the same degree." -Frogman
2) Another interesting article in the back issue of TAS (The Analog Sound, Issue 40) magazine called "Assessing the State-of-the-Art in Storage Media". In this, J. Tammblyn Henderson reports on a listening session comparing digital master tape, analogue master tape, direct-to-disc lacquer and the "live" mike feed; the report consists of a long conversation among J.Boyk, Keith Johnson, Doug Sax, and J. Tammblyn Henderson himself.
*** Below is a QUOTE from that article in TAS magazine
What cartridge could have the "lowest distortion of all," "uncanny" resolution, better than master tapes?
Kavi Alexander, auteur of the remarkable Water Lily Acoustics series of analogue vinyl discs, is monitoring disc production by comparing test pressings to the master tape. What cartridge is he using?Another moving magnet, this time the TECHNICS EPC 100 mk4. But he describes the AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-ML170 as very similar, and very close to the actual sound of the tape. In this comparison, he says, virtually no moving coil does so well; most have seriously apparent colorations.
The contrast between these views of moving magnet cartridges and usual audiophile opinion is striking. On the one hand, we have assurances from these leaders of the High-End recording industry that the best MOVING MAGNETS are very close to the master tape (or live mic feed, for direct to disc) and that they are capable of "uncanny" resolution. On the other hand, we have the prevailing perception, amounting almost to a shibboleth, of the High-End listening community, that only MOVIN COILS are realistic in some sense of that word and that moving magnets are incapable of sonic truth.
As ASP pointed out in TAS (Issue 70), the audiophile consumer and dealer community is massively arrayed against MOVING MAGNETS cartridges. But experimentation is interesting, and in this case inexpensive. If your audiophile friends give you a hard time, you’ll certainly have a pat answer: you can say if it’s good enough for Kavi Alexander, Jim Boyk, and Doug Sax, it’s good enough for me. The AT-ML170 has tip resonance at 40 kHz, and hence response that extends to that frequency at least. Flanders again: "The ear can’t hear as high as that. Still, it ought to please any passing bat." Seriously, though, such ultra-extension does seem to be associated with exceptional top end clarity.
Everyone is entitled to personal tastes, but truth is truth. If you want to hear something like the truth, I still say-no matter what everyone else is using-that you should buy a flat-top cartridge like the AT-ML170 and avoid all MC cartridges with a rising top-end. If the sound of live music is your goal, why would you want to hear a sound which is not only untrue to its source but also is something you are "seldom conscious of live".
Garrott Brothers P-77i - seems to have a big cult following and great reviews. Any sources to actually purchase in the USA or have to order from Australia? This one seems like a really high potential cartridge.
You’d better order direct from the manufacturer, actually the price on their site is not in USD, but in AU$, it will be much less in USD including shipping. Here is the original P77 on the most expensive tonearm in my system, it was magical.
GRACE - sounds like one of the best all time MM. Although seems like the secret is definitely out because so far most of what I can find is in the $500 - $600 for a broken stylus. I also have no experience to buy used cartridges so would want to make sure it’s a really reputable source. Any one selling?? lol
I sold some nice Grace carts in the past on UKAM many years ago to rise funds for their best models. The upgrade route from F9 to original F14 LC-OFC cost a lot, but over the years step by step I managed to get NOS for my collection, even the rarest Grace signature Asakura One (MC).
F9 or F8C is a good start, especially if you want to get your stylus from SoundSmith. All you need is a cartridge body with broken stylus which is normally no more than $250
Clearaudio Maestro - sounds like a great option as well but to quote @chakster I’m also concerned about the unprotected cantilever and no user replaceable styli. Also, are these made by Audio Technica? Maybe they have a similar sound and better value with the AT??
They are not better than AT and ClearAudio design (unprotected cantilever) is a nonsense for MM, also you can’t change the stylus yourself, you must ship your cartridge back to ClearAudio for stylus replacement. So when you got the ClearAudio MM you will have to do the same as you must do with MC, which is nonsense in my opinion.
