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Best Budget Phono Cartridge?

After upgrading my system for CDs and SACDs recently, I pulled my old turntable out of storage to see how it would stack up. It sounded pretty sick, and my best guess is that an old (very old) Stanton 681EEE is the culprit. I don’t want to spend a lot of money on this experiment, but if I can find a decent cartridge in the $100-250 range it would be fun to see how my old vinyl compares. I’m looking at the following new or NOS cartridges:


Audio Technica AT7V MM or AT-F2 MC

Denon DL 103 MC or DL 110 MC;

Grado Prestige Gold1

Sumiko Pearl MM  

Ortofon 2M Blue MM  

Shure M97xE

 Would any of you like to weigh in on this list, or add a favorite of your own? I’ll be inputing to a Parasound New Classic 2100 preamp.


128x128cheeg
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cleeds
5,993 posts
 
viridian
We simply will agree to disagree on the VTA issue ...
That means you also disagree with Shure, with John Risch, with Roy Gandy, with Paul McGowan ... ??? Wow!
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cleeds
5,993 posts
 
viridian
I believe that you are disagreeing With Galen on this one.
It's not me so much disagreeing with Galen , or whoever wrote that for Galen. It's Shure, John Risch, Roy Gandy, Paul McGowan and so many others. I've emailed Galen for a correction, and he's already responded by saying he "will address the issues" in his article over the next few days. I'm inclined to take him at his word - he enjoys an excellent reputation in this industry, which I'm guessing is why you put so much faith in his site.

... Gandy suggests that record cleaning is unnecessary as the stylus will simply push the dirt out of the way. I am not comfortable with that but YMMV.
No, I absolutely agree with you on that. I think it's a nutty claim, frankly.
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williewonka
3,082 posts
 
@cheeg - in case you have not yet decided on a cartridge - here’s a vote for the Denon103 - why?

Right of the bat - this is a very good cartridge, i.e. as long as it is compatible with your arm

Next - there are quite a few versions available
  1. Zu has a version mounted in their aluminum head-shell
  2. Soundsmith can pprovide a few tweaks from nuding to wooden head-shells
  3. you can buy a number of third party wooden head-shells and mount a nuded 103 into them yourself if you have the courage and abilities :-)
  4. or simply eopoxy a brass shim to provide more stability (see link)
http://image99.net/blog/files/23c020f75290d3392577113371f4dc94-38.html

So my point is - the 103 can grow with you and your system

I have a standard 103 and one with a Soundsmith modified cantilever/stylus - both fitted with the brass shim. For the same money I do not believe there is a significantly better cartridge than the 103.

It has been a workhorse of broadcasting for decades and with the tweaks can compete with cartridges many times its price.

It also responds very nicely to a good arm - I have an Audiomods Classic arm that brings out the very best this cartridge is able to provide.

That’s my vote - Steve
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