Look at Dynamic compliance measured at 10Hz If you see a Japanese cart then most likely the compliance is measured at 100Hz ! If so you must convert it to 10Hz, to do so simply x 1.7 With $500 budget you’d better look for MM or MI cart than for MC. Check Garrott Brothers P77i cartridge, you can buy it new from the manufacturer in Australia online (convert 690 AU$ to USD first, it will be ~$505 and this is the best you can buy in my opinion) |
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I had the 2.0, upgraded to 2.2 by me. Ran a Benz Micro Glider, beautifully. I have no idea what mass or compliance, having learned long ago how little these matter. If you want to search and select on that basis, go for it. If it causes you to miss out on a fine cart like the Glider, oh well. Also used a Benz Ruby on it. These are out of your range new, but not used.
Being willing to buy used opens up a lot of doors. I have seen high hours Koetsu for around $500. Well worth it for a taste of the magic, you will at least know what the others are trying to do. |
To Buy a worn MC cartridge is nonsense, even the worst Koetsu Black cost much more than your limit. Garrott Brothers, who rebuild cartridges for decades, claimed the original Koetsu was poorly made!
I’m wondering how people can recommend a worn/used Koetsu for a person you said his budget is $500 max??? A good Koetsu cost probably $5k. This is overpriced cartridge for reach people, the price for them is irrelevant (higher price for them is always better, no matter if the quality is not any better).
If you don’t mind used (as you said) buy MM or MI and look for a NOS stylus at least! The stylus you can swap yourself in 10 seconds (not that retippers crap).
Read about Garrott, because 99% of audiogon users never heard about it, but you can search audiogon to find a story written by R.Andreoli (he was like a son for them). Unfortunately the brothers are no longer with us, otherwise they could be number one cartridge repair service!
The P77 is legendary series of Dynamic Coil cartridges (MM), at $500 you can’t buy any better cartridge (new). The P77i is the latest version, still in production in Australia. The cartridge is sweet on top quality tonearms. I’ve been using mine on Reed 3p (it’s €5k tonearm).
Even JICO SAS stylus is compatible with old and new Garrott.
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Thanks very much for all the input everybody, I will take it all under advisement.
I have a high-output Grado wood cart so I could try that to start.
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Excellent choice. For fun, I put a Grado Opus3 on my Graham 2.2 mounted on a full Pedersen modified (and other mods) Michell Orbe SE. I ask folks how much they think the cartridge costs. Answers so far are $600 - $3k. The Opus3 retails for $275.
High output MC cartridges in your price range will easily be beat by either Grado (MM) or Soundsmith (MI) cartridges in the same price range. |
Nice. I was looking at the Soundsmith carts as well. I have owned several B&O tables and did enjoy the MMC designs. |
@chakster , Correct, it was very poorly made. I had one.
@tzed , check out the Grado 1042. Also, you can always add mass to the tonearm to make it work with somewhat less compliant cartidges. |
@tzed , Excuse me, Goldring 1042! |
Hmmm, I hadn't considered messing with Mr. Graham's design. I have seen arms that have weighs to increase their mass though so I suppose it's not a terrible idea ;-)
I'll look at that Goldring, thanks. |
I've got a 2.0 updated to the 2.2. It came in the deluxe kit with overhang tool and an auxiliary counterweight. I understood the effective mass to be 12g. Seems about right. A medium mass arm but capable of going higher mass if you want. use the auxiliary cw and also you can use a headweight in order to dial mass in for a particular cartridge.
I think of cartridges with medium or low compliance as potential match-up material. Down to 10 (x 10¯6 cm/dyne)* or as high as 16. I've tried some lighter moving magnet cartridges with sub-optimal results, I thought. The arm wants lower compliance. It liked my Shelter 501-II. And works nice with the DL-103r. It was fine on an Ortofon Jubilee. Beautiful output. I feel the arm allows the cartridge to speak fully when the mass and compliance are right. High quality intricately machined tonearm. Delicate and beautiful.
-Steve
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Mr Jonathan carr uses it.. so Lyra can be a good candidate |
I’m wondering how people can recommend a worn/used Koetsu for a person you said his budget is $500 max???
No, you're not wondering, not at all. You're just trying to take a cheap shot. Nobody recommended a Koetsu. I said buying used opens up a lot of options and mentioned one example I have seen. You can convince yourself of your cleverness but the plain fact of the matter is the more you twist the truth around to fit your predetermined narrative the more you undermine your own credibility. Do it enough you risk sounding like just another MDS crank. |
With a $500 budget I would look closely at the new Audio Technica OC9 family of cartridges. I believe there are four variants available, and they range from the mid $200s up to the $700s. Looks like the OC9XML would fit in your budget as it sells for $549 and gets you a boron cantilever and a microlinear line contact diamond. Audio Technica has a long history with this cartridge and has refined it over the years. One of the better values in audio, and a solid choice at your price point. |
No, you’re not wondering, not at all. You’re just trying to take a cheap shot. Nobody recommended a Koetsu. I said buying used opens up a lot of options and mentioned one example I have seen.
You can convince yourself of your cleverness but the plain fact of the matter is the more you twist the truth around to fit your predetermined narrative the more you undermine your own credibility. Do it enough you risk sounding like just another MDS crank. No matter what you seen for sale somewhere, you have no idea what it was. Koetsu BLACK is the worst Koetsu cartridge, but the brand itself is one of the most expensive brand ever. If you seen a worst Koetsu model somewhere for ridiculous price then it’s a worn cartridge that must be repaired, I know very well the going rate for used cartridges. The most expensive brand and the worn used cartridge is the worst combination ever for a buyer! A buyer with low budget can find a perfect cartridge (MC, MM or MI) from the brands like Audio-Technica, Garrott ... etc. Koetsu is a luxury cartridge that cost $5k and they are for experienced users who tried many different cartridges or for those who does not count money. Koetsu service is terribly expensive. |
