Cartridge under $600 for VAC VPI HW

Thanks for those suggestions.  I will look up what is said more about them.     much appreciated.   

@stereo5 i just checked the specs of the cartridge you are advising to @nazuk and it’s perfectly illustrate that modern MM cartridges are inferior in quality, cheaper in materials used, and very expensive. The reason to advice is just because you bought it or because you think it’s a great cartridge?

SPECS: Vasari Gold
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Duraluminum machined body
Aluminum cantilever *
Copper coil wire
Alnico magnet
elliptical diamond *
suggested tracking weight 2.0g
output level 4.0mV
frequency response 15-25KHz *
impedance 1KOhm

* the diamond is not nude (it’s bonded elliptical), cantilever is the cheapest, frequency response is very thin.

It’s very easy to outperform Denon DL-103 with its conical tip, but it is not easy to outperform great vintage MM cartridges with the materials and technologies way ahead of the time. Below you will find the spect of Victor X-1 for example, this cartridge can compete with $3000 MC cartridges.


SPECS: Victor X-1II
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Beryllium Cantilever *
Stylus: 0.15mm Nude Shibata diamond tip *
Frequency response: 10-60,000Hz *
Tracking Force: 1,5g (+/- 0,2g)
Output: more 3.0mV (1kHz, 5cm/sec)
Impedance: 2.2 kOhms (1kHz)
Load: 47 to 100 kohms
Weight: 7.5g

*  Shibata stylus shape of the Victor X-1II cartridge distinguishes itself by having the necessary small contact surface at the horizontal level for playback of the ultra-high frequencies found on CD-4 quadraphonic records. At the vertical level, the special shape of the stylus gives a wider contact surface than is the case with either spherical or elliptical styli. Various cartridge manufacturers have been inspired by the Shibata shape and now produce very expensive cartridges with stylus shapes that give the same advantages as the Shibata. These have names such as bi-elliptical, pramanic, quadrahedral, hyperbolic, pathemax, and Fine Line. Although CD-4 and other quadraphonic systems never really caught on with consumers, they have helped to speed up the development of stylus types that improve playback of stereo records in the form of a more precise treble reproduction, lower distortion, and less record wear. The cantilever is made of beryllium, a metal that is far lighter and stronger than widely-used aluminium or titanium. It has greater velocity of sound propagation, and it’s flat response extends into the super high frequency range.

And this Victor is only one example of the great vintage MM cartridges from the 70s and 80s.

@chakster

i recommended the Vasari Gold because I happen to like it very much. Specs mean nothing to me. The Cartridge sounds wonderful on my system and since I listen to 90% Rock Music, it is perfect for my needs. The ZU Denon 103 was a much more expensive Cartridge as it was the top grade at 700.00. Unfortunately I bent the canteliver by accident and off it went to Soundsmith. I bought the Vasari Gold Cartridge based on a fellow Audiogoner’s recommendation as he listens to the same kind of music as I do. He gave me good advice and I stand by what I said.  This new Cartridge was just going to be a back up but it is so good that the ZU Denon will now be the back up. 

If if you haven’t heard the Cartridge then as far as I am concerned, your opinion means nothing to me. Listen to the Cartridge and then tell me what you think.

As someone who is neutral in this vintage/modern debate, I can observe that some advocates of the vintage are often a little agggressive and uncompromising in their opinions. One thing to say is, as an example, that many vintage MM cartridges are much better than most or even all modern MM, and another to call all modern MMs inferior or junk. Perhaps unintentionally, it si close to calling those who use or consider using modern MM uneducated imbeciles.
Not very nice and in many case wrong.
Another point is that vintage, whatever it is, is not for everyone. One should be an expert when choosing, know places to service and fix them, and other considerations.
The Goldring 1042 that I've been using has been made for decades, I think, though it is not vintage in a full sense of the word.
This makes me half-imbecil, I guess.