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Clearaudio Virtuoso Ebony Wood or Ortofon 2M Black Cartridge?

First post here, but I've been lurking and soaking up the knowledge. Thank you all for sharing your opinions.
I recently purchased a new turntable after a long absence. I bought a Marantz TT-15S1 which comes with a Clearaudio Virtuoso Ebony Wood cartridge.


 A friend of mine would really like that cartridge from me and is willing to buy me the under $900 cartridge of my choice in trade for the Virtuoso. He recommended the Ortofon 2M Black, and in doing some research it seems like a great cart, but how would it compare to the Virtuoso?


 I should mention that my listening is mainly Rock (70's, 80's, 90's 00's) with some Jazz here and there. (Sometimes fairly aggressive hard rock / metal as well).
 While I know that the Virtuoso is an excellent cartridge I've heard it described as "soft" sounding. I've also heard the Black described as "aggressive" sounding which might better line up well with my source material(?) I've also heard that the black is harder to "dial in"


 I have not yet set up the Marantz so I'd like to pick a cart quickly and get that bad boy playing.
Anyone have experience with this table and both (or either) cart?
Or general takeaways on the differences between these 2 with any table?
Is any possible advantage of the black worth any added trouble in setup?
Thanks for your help!


shayatin
fleib
1,124 posts
 

Johnnyb, Clearaudio is creative with specs without necessarily lying. When V2 series was released, output was bumped up on top models due to stronger magnets. Last I looked this was scaled back to be the same as all the others. Maybe they didn't like the higher output?

AT is/was OEM for about a jillion MMs, but I would guess Clearaudio buys in batches and sorts it themselves. Look at the entry MM and check the separation spec. I don't doubt that Clearaudio sorts them. My Virtuoso has virtually identical resistance/inductance in each channel. An AT95 might vary more and that's indicated by limited sample testing, but I suspect it's true.

I'm quite sure that AT makes the stylus also, because of manufacturing similarities. The Maestro could be a boron/ML, but I don't know this as fact. I'm not trying to make a case against this choice as I think it has nice potential. A Soundsmith cantilever/tip is less expensive than a 2M stylus and those Jico or Vivid Line replacements sound good.

There are pages of discussion about this in the MM/MI thread. Clearaudio made a good choice using AT, IMO. BTW, my 95 is potted and has a custom aluminum top plate. I like to tinker.

Regards,

johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
^^^ After all, look what Zu accomplished by recasing the DL-103? But they were totally upfront about it.

I suspect the ebony enclosure is a significant plus over the thin plastic of the AT95E. That's why I spent a little more money to get the AT150MLX instead of the similarly wired and tipped AT440MLa. The 150 has a cast aluminum body and very thick and rigid plastic supporting pieces.
fleib
1,124 posts
 

The enclosure of the 95 is mostly aluminum. The top is plastic. Some people disagree with your body material assessment, thinking the 150 deluxe body is unnecessarily heavy and the plastic is better damped.

Some others say the CA V2 has too much wood.  I wouldn't know.

The AT 150 and 440 are entirely different in both generator and stylus. Lowest inductance is TOTL, but you can get similar motors in the 100E and 5V bodies - same stylus fitment. The 120/440 body has the same basic motor as in the 160ML, 155LC and many of the AT classics. The 490mH generator was their go-to TOTL for years. It's generally easier to get flat response with it. Put a 150 stylus on a 440 and it's silly good.

CA makes a $15K cart. Why would they want to reinvent the MM ? The 95 is the perfect candidate for modification. Its 400mH motor splits the difference between the 150 and 440 and is a dream come true in the budget category. AFAIK CA never lied about their MM origins and they can't be expected to advertise it.  I like my Virtuoso. You can even use a trimmed 3472 series P-mount stylus on there and it's even better than the 95 replacements, but I read that Soundsmith now offers boron/micro so you can turn it into a virtual Maestro/Virtuoso.

Regards,


mustangjeff
25 posts
 
What Johnnyb53 says makes a lot of sense to me.  I have a Clearaudio concept TT with their basic MM cart.  It's nowhere in the same league as the Virtuoso Ebony Wood. 

I've been kicking around upgrading the cart, and a local shop is pushing me towards the Ortofon Quintet Black.  In the back of my mind I'm thinking I should stay with a Clearaudio cart such as the MC or  Virtuoso Ebony Wood since the carts were designed with their TT in mind.   Am I being silly and limiting myself?
kongensfelt
20 posts
 
I see this old thread, but what have you decided mustangjeff - and what kind of phono stage are you using? I also have the Concept TT, with Performer V2, but now I want a better stylus. I'm thinking of these.

  1. Clearaudio Virtuoso (MM)
  2. Ortofon Quintet Black (MC)
  3. AudioTechnica ART9 (MC)
Any suggests?
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