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Trying vinyl, need some help!

For the last month, I have been searching for a good cd player or transport and thought I had settled on a Mcintosh unit when I started looking and turntables. I found a Roksan Radius 5 with a Nima tonearm that was in my budget so I bought it.
Now comes the problem, the cartridge. There are so many to choose from and they are not cheap so finding one that would compliment the table/arm is a bit intimidating.
My Audio Research preamp has 2 inputs for MM, or I can purchase a dedicated MC preamp.
If anyone has any experience with the Radius 5 please let me know what you have tried.
drf24
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@brianmoriarty 
Have you seen this video about Grado Labs https://youtu.be/L2ZpJHGYMC8 ? Very interesting. 

One of the best Grado MI i have ever heard is Joseph Grado signature XTZ model from the 80s, the price was $750 back in the days. I've managed to find NOS sample in the original box. This is a very special cartridge from Joseph Grado himself (RIP).  
brianmoriarty
51 posts
 
Thanks Chakster, yes I had seen that before. What a great story of a family business producing headphones and cartridges that compete with the likes of sennheiser.
drf24 OP
21 posts
 
@glennewdick
If your just starting out I would not start by opening your pre-amp and taking a soldering iron to it (sorry chakster).
The preamp is already torn down. I am in the middle of cleaning, inspecting, and replacing any bad caps. The SP-4 has 2, actually, it has 3 phono inputs, 2 MM and 1 optional MC
I think what chakster is trying to say is, on a budget and just starting out optimize/play with what you have, keep the money to a minimum. Who knows I may hate the sound and never use it.
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Get rid of that SP4! A bad sounding SS preamp - and an embarrassment for ARC! Get an SP6 instead - all tube and still a contender against today's multi-kilobuck preamps! I OWN one - a TRUE classic from the Bill Johnson era!
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
MC cartridges beat MM and MI cartridges for sound quality and information retrieval from those vinyl grooves - contrary to what the untutored say! My experience goes back 40 years! Limited budget? Try the Denon 103R on your Pioneer - I have the same setup! 
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