New Cartridge advice


I am looking for a new cartridge. I recently obtained a mint Denon DL-62 TT with 2 tonearms. I had the turntable cleaned and tuned by my local shop. Sounds great with my Stanton 681-EEE with the aftermarket Vivid line stylus. I also use a Nagaoka MP-200 with very good results.

I recently had my Darlington Labs phono amp upgraded to the MP8B and it will now support MC Cartridges with adjustable loading.

I have been torn between the Denon 103 series or possibly the Hana SL as my first purchase. The Denon TT has adjustable VTA. My concern is how well the TT can match the performance of the cartridge

System consists of Eversolo DMP8, LSA Warp 1 Amp and Linn Nexus or Tekton Lore Be Speakers.

Thanks

128x1281happyman

Unless you plan on spending over $2000 on a moving coil cartridge I would stick with high output cartridges. You get much more for your money and in that price range better performance. Look at the Nagaoka MP 500, Any one of the high output SoundSmith or Clearaudio cartridges, The Ortofon 2M Black LVB and even some vintage cartridges like yours or a Shure V15. High output cartridges have many benefits like increased dynamic range and much better signal to noise ratios.

If you are determined to get a moving coil cartridge I highly suggest you save up for a Lyra Delos. IMHO it is the best relatively inexpensive moving coil out there.

you don't gotta spend $2K to get great MC performance.  Obviously you need to make sure they work with the arm, but as it is a Denon, I'd say DL103R or 301 mkII are options worth considering.  Bear in mind both of those are ellipticals though.  the AT OC9 series has fineline and shibata options, but higher compliance than either denon so again research your arm.

unless you are particularly wealthy $2K + cartridges are somewhat foolish I think, considering they a) wear out and b) are likely to suffer an accident at some point...  but  that is just IMO.

I have several Denon DDs, 59L, 60L, 61F, 47F. I have swapped a Grado RS with a micro line retip and a Stanton 881 with vivid line and a finer retip that kept its vtf at 1 or less on the 47F back and forth. And a retipped micro line Denon 303 and the Grado on the 60L, and a Nagaoka 500MP and a Benz on the 61F. Of all these combos I like the 303 on the 60 the best, but both the 881 retip (I like better than Vivid but Vivid is punchier and still good) and the Grado on the 47  sound very good but different. I also have a retipped micro line 301, a 301 Mkii, and a 302 I have tried. Of these I like the 301 best but not as much as the 303. The Benz is also good (used on 59, with bells and whistles arm) but I found even better on a higher end belt TT/Jelco 12"arm I have.  The point is, a better cart than the ones you have will sound different, and most likely better than what you have--up to a point (you may have to play the Darlington's HF jumpers). If you can find a 301, 303, 304, 305 for a low price and spend the 400 or so for the retip you will max out the sound. Anything a lot more $$$ on these tables I have is diminishing returns.