2. analog
  3. 1444460049

Wacky Question about cartridges

After 20 years without Analog Playback - I'm buying a turntable. My last was an Oracle mkII or III. Can't remember what cartridge though.

I've looked for some reviews/lists of 'hot' cartridges in 1993-1995 and am coming-up empty-handed.

I know that I had a Sumiko Blue point at one point but I also had something else - an MC - that was really an item at that time. I liked the Sumiko but the other one was brilliant.
Ortofon? Dynavector? It wasn't a Koetsu, Goldmund or Grado. It cost +-$750

The reason I'm asking is to help me choose my first cartridge in 'my new era'. Anyone old enough to remember 1994? :-) Thanks in advance.
128x128lemmycaution
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Alpha Genesis cartridges were originally developed by Nakatsuka-san, before he founded ZYX.

The current ZYX lineup should provide equivalent or better (mostly better) performance. Same designer. All models still made by hand, either by Nakatsuka-san or one of two planned successors that he hired, trained and still supervises.

qdrone
1,041 posts
 
Dan my 2000 was also on an Oracle II. The tonearm was an Et 2.5. Still have it but I bought an Oracle 5 upgraded it to a 6. Plan to have the 5 bearing put in two,buy a Grado TOL Mono Cartridge and have a table exclusive for Mono.
qdrone
1,041 posts
 
Yeah there are a lot of used Oracles out there but the motors go bad. People are buying tables just for the motor. I wouldn't think it would be too hard to rebuild the motor though. But I gotta tell you I'm happy with the 6,it throws a huge Soundstage and has a bottom my 2 only dreamed about.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,503 posts
 
I like an Ortofon Black..(among many cartridges)
inna
7,820 posts
 
Yes, that's what I read. Cartridge is the least significant element in turntable/arm/cartridge/phono system. $100 cartridge through $5000 phono - okay though unwise. $5000 cartridge through $100 phono - almost no sound at all.
As I understand, the table itself is the most important, then the arm, then phono.
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