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phono cartridge help

Hope everyone is doing good. It was a cold one here in NH Saturday, So I had some indoor time and was looking to replace my cartridge. My head started spinning with everything that came into play with compliance, Capacitance, stylus type, output voltage and my limited options.

What affect would I get going from an output of 5.5 to a 4.0 or to a 6.5mV?

Turntable is a fixed 20 vta am I stuck with a 20 vta cartridge?

Opinions on these:  

Prestige 3 Series  

Audio-Technica VM740ML  (0.5 g over limit)

Nagaoka MP- 200

Goldring 1006 vta 24

With what I have now it is very limited to upgrades but I'm not ready to spend the money on a proper phono system, in 2 or 3 years.

I listen to Yes, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, Eddie money, steely dan, David Bowie, the Cars, Rickie Lee Jones, Traffic, the Who, Savoy Brown, Van Halen.

What I have:

I clean my records with an ultrasonic cleaner and anti-static brush, I would grade my records at vg/vg+

Fluance RT85 Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge (VTA not adjustable)
SUPPORTED CARTRIDGE WEIGHT0.18 – 0.25 oz (5.0 – 7.5 g)
 COUNTERWEIGHT Yes – 3.60 oz (102 g)
EFFECTIVE TONEARM MASS 0.97 oz (27.5 g)
OVERHANG 0.76 inches (19.2 mm)
HEADSHELL MOUNTH-4 Bayonet Mount
Cartridge weight must be between 5.0 to 7.5 grams with a height of 18mm and 20° Vertical Tracking Angle.

YAQIN MS-23B
Tubes: 12AX7B × 2 (Voltage preamplifier)
Output Voltages: 0.5V (400Hz input/500mv)
Input Sensitivity: ≤4.0mV (400Hz, 0.5V output)
Cartridge Suitability: MM (Moving Magnet) cartridge.

Legacy Audio Signature SE speakers

Primaluna EVO400 (KT150)

 

 

 

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128x1281jafa
dogberry
671 posts
 

Grado Prestige Series's is an easy recommendation. A positive thing about the Grado cartridges is that they are moving- iron and consequently not affected by cable capacitance

And the Nagaoka is moving iron too, although they point out their cantilever bears a special alloy rather than a sliver of iron, hence 'MP' - Moving Permalloy. It also doesn't care about capacitance, like Grados and Soundsmiths. The Nagaoka has the advantage that you can take a better stylus intended for a model higher in their range and slip it into a lower end one.

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

@dogberry +1 for pointing that out about the Nagaoka cartridges being moving iron type. Certainly better than MM types that are affected by cable capacitance! I do have one Nagaoka in my collection. That was attached to a Rabco linear track arm I purchased awhile back. 

1jafa's avatar
1jafa OP
16 posts
 

The Grado is 9g and the turntable specs. are 5.0-7.5g 

Is that ok?

I'm thinking the Grado or Nagaoka, I wasn't looking at the Grado to much because of the weight.

 

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,821 posts
 

Grade can be a little smooth and rolled off. I think you might be disappointed. The Nag has detail, fine bass. a sweet tone, and musicality. 

1jafa's avatar
1jafa OP
16 posts
 

Thanks Noromance, I needed that.

I just bought the Nagaoka MP200 last night and was second guessing myself.

I would like to get to a point where I have a couple cartridges to choose from.

Thanks again for sharing your experience it is much appreciated. 

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