My daily driver is a Shure V15 Type IV with Jico sas b stylus with boron cantilever. I prefer it to my more expensive moving coil cartridges and my other MM cartridges.
Vinyl Lovers-- Cartridges!!!! Do you have a daily driver?
About a decade ago, some kind soul told me that the phono preamp was ever so important and that I could keep spending here and there, but to get to Oz I'd need a good one. Since that time I've had a Manley Chinook and now Modwright's reference phono stage.
These pieces have allowed me to get deeper into vinyl. I have a lovely LTA Aero DAC (tubes and R2R), which I adore. Yet, nothing is the same as vinyl. Ok--maybe my reel-to-reel stuff but I only have about a half dozen albums.
At any rate, here's my dilemma. I'm finding cartridges just don't hold up that long. I keep a clean shop and my records are in very clean shape. I do not, however, have a laboratory clean room here. I run VTA generally at the middle of the spec. Still, cartridges are easy to run through--or so it seems to my ear.
I've had mixed results retipping moving coils. Sometimes it's fabulous!
I think I'm getting a little tired for buying cartridges only to wear them out. I've run through a Benz Micro LPS, Kiseki Purpleheart, Dynavector 20x something, Audio-Technica ART9, Ortofon 2M black, and a few others I cannot recall. The initial outlay doesn't bother me. What's getting me is they just seem to fade off. I doubt I'm getting more than 1000 hours before they sound raggedy. Yet, I've never counted.
I've noticed with a high quality phono preamp you can use a lower priced cartridge to amazing results. So, I just scooped up an $800 Nagaoka MP-500, hoping I could use it as a daily driver to spare my Goldring Ethos (fantastic cart by the way). I don't have the Nag yet to evaluate.
What are others doing? If you're someone who plows through lots of vinyl in their listening sessions, do you just pony up ever year for a new $2k, $5k cartridge? Do you run lower priced, value carts?
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If I was buying a new TT, or Cartridge, and wanted to go MM, (not MC yet or ever), this is only $299, an excellent sounding cartridge with the longest lasting MicroLine stylus tip on tapered aluminum, tracks 2.0g. https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/cartridges/type/moving-magnet/vm540ml-h just make sure the TT’s tonearm has a removable headshell. At least compare other’s separation/balance imaging specs to it before you decide. ................................... edit, just happened across this review on Amazon mentioning both the AT540ml and his intentions to try AT33PTG/II "
5.0 out of 5 stars Best MM Cart to Date on My SystemReviewed in the United States on October 28, 2024 Style: VMN40ML MicroLine NudePattern Name: TurntableVerified Purchase I'm running the 540ML on a Technics SL-1210GR through the phono pre of a Yamaha A-S1100 and out to Harbeth P3ESRs. Comparable carts I also own are the Nagaoka MP-200, Ortofon 2M Bronze, and an original KAB ProS40 with an advanced Ortofon Fritz Geiger stylus. I also have the VM95ML. The 540ML has the best balance to my ears out of all of them. It's more open and detailed sounding than the VM95ML likely due to the better engine with four coils vs two on the 95ML. The 540ML also has better channel separation at 28 dB vs 23 dB on the 95ML. Some say the 540ML can sound bright, but it does not on my system at all. That said if you are sensitive to brightness you might be happier with the 95ML or better yet the VM750SH or VMN50SH on VM540 body. Note the engines between the VM540ML and VM740ML are identical. The only difference is the body and weight, so you'll want to factor which is a better match for your tonearm. If your tonearm supports both, then it's up to which you prefer the looks of. The Ortofons above sound great but they are a little more sensitive to pops and clicks. The Nagaoka MP-200 is a wonderfully lush sounding cart, while the 540ML is more neutral. They are tied imo, so which you prefer is just a matter of taste. That said, the 540ML is my all around favorite. Next stop for me will be the MC AT-PTG33/2." |
Everything should be viewed as expendable…especially tires and turbochargers… Ive just 3 TT and 4 arms so my hours are distributed..two lead horses are a Koetsu Urishi Black and a Kuzma CAR-40… I don’t disagree that a top notch phono stage is essential but volumes have been written, ships launched, wars fought over capital allocation in music reproduction systems… find your own risk return model. The NAG are indeed quite good but i prefer a Soundsmith RUBY OCL assy in a Grace F9… when i have to roll that way.. |
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