I'd keep the MC30 and get a re-tip! 10 years! At least have the stylus examined under a scope to see how much life is left!
Ortofon Cadenza vs. old Ortofon MC30 Super2 ?
I've been using an Ortofon MC-30 Super II for over 10 years now... it's an old design, but I love the sound.
I bought a Soundsmith Zephyr mkII about 3 years ago, and while it's great, I simply don't love it as much as my old MC30. Yes, the Zephyr is more resolving & lower distortion, but the MC30 is more punchy and musical.
I'm considering an Ortofon Cadenza.... Red or Blue...... probably Blue.
Can anybody here tell me if Cadenza has a similar Ortofon family sound to my old MC-30 Super II ?
They've gotten rave reviews, but so did the Zephyr.... it's just personal preference & synergy at this point.
My Table is a 30yr old SOTA Sapphire/Premier MMT arm/Parasound JC3 preamp.
I bought a Soundsmith Zephyr mkII about 3 years ago, and while it's great, I simply don't love it as much as my old MC30. Yes, the Zephyr is more resolving & lower distortion, but the MC30 is more punchy and musical.
I'm considering an Ortofon Cadenza.... Red or Blue...... probably Blue.
Can anybody here tell me if Cadenza has a similar Ortofon family sound to my old MC-30 Super II ?
They've gotten rave reviews, but so did the Zephyr.... it's just personal preference & synergy at this point.
My Table is a 30yr old SOTA Sapphire/Premier MMT arm/Parasound JC3 preamp.
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- 17 posts total
The Cadenza Range have a design technology that is incorporating proportions of the technologies of the PW Windfeld MC and are also referred to as having comparison to and modern replacement for the Kontrapunkt Range. The Kontrapunk Range has incorporated proportional technologies of the Jubilee MC. Certain Technologies used on the Jubilee MC were in use prior to the release of the Jubilee. It might be best to check if your MC is sharing technologies from the above Model ranges. It is likely that the materials used have been superseded as the Models have gone through New Model Ranges. I myself am a full convert to having a much enjoyed Cartridge Overhauled / Rebuilt, when carried out by a trustworthy service, the experience to be encountered with the New Condition Cartridge and the value for money when following this approach is very attractive. |
I have a Cadenza Red and was hoping it was as good as my old MC30 Super. It isn't. Not a bad cartridge but not special. I prefer the Quintet Black (boron cantilever) to the Cadenza Red. I haven't heard the Quintet sapphire cantilever but its stylus is a shibata, like the boron Quintet that it replaced, and it's cheaper than the Cadenza Red. |
Ramon70, Do you feel that you like your Quintet Black better than your old MC30? My retip experience of an old cart was not good. I had an old MC20 retipped by Soundsmith with a RUBY cantilever. When I got it back, it was amazing for about 6 months, and then the internal suspension broke. It was a 15yr old cartridge that just didn't survive the trauma of being worked on, I guess. Soundsmith was not at fault, but they gave me $100 for my broken MC20, and that's when I got the MC30 SuperII from a dealer in Germany (around 2007). MC30 was not in the Ortofon catalog anymore, so I think it may have been NOS. |
Dear @mirolab : Your bad experience with the MC20 was an oversight by the re-tipper but that's not common but in reality " weird ". In the other side The cartridge motor of your MC30 Super II is a great one even by today standards and in this regards I'm with @jasonbourne52 . Send it to a regarded re-tipper as: https://vasnyinc.com/contact/ Don't ask for ruby/saphire cantilever but boron that's way superior in that specific task. Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS, R. |
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