2. analog
  3. 131591-371

So how many use MM cartridge and intend to keep it that way ?

Not in entry level set-up.
I currently have Goldring 1042, Nottingham Spacedeck/Spacearm, and might try The Cartridge Man or some vintage cartridge later.
inna
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@inna 
Why do you not care about them?

I think i already explained in another thread not so long ago.
BTW the Cartridge Man is just reworked Grado ? I would advice to check Joseph Grado (signature model) XTZ before buyin' Cartridge Man. The XTZ was TOTL and the price in the 80s was $750. 

I am a tape man so naturally I want to come as close to the tape as possible.

Then you should check this TAS article (from the golden age of analog) if you haven't seen it before. Those guys comparing digital master tape, analogue master tape, direct-to-disc lacquer and the "live" mike feed; the report consists of a long conversation among J. Boyk, Keith Johnson, Doug Sax, and J. Tammblyn Henderson. 
 
"What cartridge, what exotic audiophile wonder of disc playback, was producing these marvels? What cartridge could have the "lowest distortion of all," "uncanny" resolution, better than master tapes? The answer is (I wish I could put a page turn here): The Stanton 881 Mk II.

The scene shifts. Kavi Alexander, auteur of the remarkable Water Lily Acoustics series of analogue vinyl discs, is monitoring disc production by comparing test pressings to the master tape. What cartridge is he using? Another moving magnet, this time the Technics EPC-100 mk4...

Audio-Technica AT-ML170 is very similar, and very close to the actual sound of the tape. In this comparison, he says, virtually no moving coil does so well; most have seriously apparent colorations."   

Personally, i prefer the AT-ML170 (i have a spare) and AT-ML180.   
 

nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

Dear chakster, the logic of identity relation is not easy to grasp

but the rule is that the same name refer to the same object. There

are however different names which refer to the same object but

we somehow have no problem with those. Say Vienna , Wenen,

Bec, etc. refer to the same city in Austria which Austrians name

Wien. The logical rule is then that whatever is true about Vienna

is also true about Wien, Wenen (Dutch name) and Bec (Serbian

name). So your statement ''ZYX is not ZYX'' is at least confusing.

I think that your meant ''the old ZYX is no more the new ZYX''.

The old Nandric is, alas, also no more the young one.

I ever started a thread about ''irreparable'' cartridge but nobody was

interested. My reason was my Sony XL 88 D as well the ZYX.

Their body is made from ''plastic'' which is glued together so

there is no entrance to the inside parts. The Sony was probably the

first cart which was  ''potted'' so nobody was willing to mess with

this cart. Axel try for two years and give up. But he fixed my ZYX

by cutting some parts from the body in order to get access to

the generator and suspension. If your new ZYX is even more

difficult to fix or rather impossible to fix then I am sorry for you

considering the old as well the new prices for both ZYX kinds.

Even if any of those ZYX is made and delivered from Eldorado

I would not even dream to buy one (grin).  

inna OP
7,296 posts
 
I bet, some MC people are reading this and having fun.
I don't belong to any camp. Kavi's opinion does carry weight for me.
No, I haven't read that article but I will, thank you.
I know nothing about The Cartridge Man, it is just that it is not one of more popular choices, which may mean different things.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Look at the Cartridge Man, then look at the Grado
Compare the prices, you'll be surprised. 

darkstar1
180 posts
 

I have a Soundsmith Aida MI. I have had the Dynavector 10x5 and had the 20x also. Heard some other MC all under 2k. Always thought they sounded thin and ultra detailed but lost the musicality.

I think my current keeps most of the detail but has much more body and musicality. Plus it does not just wear our leaving you a huge bill. I am sure someone will say you need to spend at least 3k to hear what good MCs are all about. My response nah I good. 
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