Grading phono cartridges Part 2.
Grading phono cartridges
This is my second posting on this subject. The initial posting was done
in 2014. I was asked to put updates, and changes.
As before I remind to all respected Audiophiles- It
is my personal guidance in buying and selling cartridges. I do 30-100
transactions every month and I need these numbers handy.
Before you look at the list I have to tell, that I’m not putting it for public use to
be involved in any discussion or answer any questions. I’m also not affiliated
with any of the brand or model on the list (even I have done some grading and
testing for few analog brands and audio dealers around the world). I'm happy if
my observations and experience help you in any way. Also I always answer all questions related to my listings and try
to fulfill requests on some rare models. I'm proudly inform all my customers
that I'm involved in production o ViRa tonearms. Please visit my site
virahighend.com for more information and some rare cartridges as well.
All general grading philosophy rules are copied
from my previous posting.
1. The testing was done on High End set up worse
around $100K
2. The results are from the last 9 years
3. Most of the cartridge evaluations were done on
uni-pivot or bi-axis arms. Only about 20% are from tangential and air tangent
arms.
4. Most of the cartridges were tested on 2 or 3
arms (except really low end)
5. The ratio of used and new cartridges
approximately 85% used and 15% new- therefore some cartridges could be not
working up to specs 100%
6. I have few re-build and re-tipped cartridges
on the list and sometimes they sounded better then original, sometimes they sounded worth.
7. There are many cartridges that have better
sonic value, but lower position over all. Some cartridge have great appearance,
mounting and re-sale value, but sound mediocre. If cartridges have same grading
points I try to put higher on the list cartridges with better sonic value and
cheaper original sale price.
////////////////////
The grading philosophy.
For the simplicity I have 10 grading categories. Each categories worth 10 points. There are 3
technical categories and 7 sonic categories. The best and maximum score could be 100 point.
The 3 technical categories are:
1. Appearance/ Packaging
Packaging and appearance are very important for
re-sale value.
2. Mounting and aligning
75% of cartridge damage occur at the mounting
and aligning process. Scary but fact. We are not talking about catastrophic
damage, but also scratches, dings etc. Therefore threaded multiple holes on
square angled body would get 10point compare to a round body or other type of
mounting holes/hooks. I love Miyabi or Mark Levinson MLC cartridges, but it's
almost impossible to mount and align these visually.
3. Resale value
35 years old $230 Grace F-9 Ruby and 5 years old
$5000 Linn Arkiv have the same "street" re-sale value.
30 points max for technical grading.
/////////////////
The 7 sonic categories are:
1. Low frequency
2. Mid frequency
3. High frequency
4. Soundstage with and depth
5. Background noise
6. Dynamics
7. Overall presentation and impression
Everything is simple and clear. Cartridge
overall is the first link and lost or mis-represented information from the
record would never be restored no matter how much $$$ you will invest in the
other links of your system.
To summarize all these:
The numbers on the left represent current ranking.
The 3 numbers on the right are technical grading (30 max), sonic grading
(70 max) and overall score(100 max)
BRAND MODEL TYPE TECH SONIC GRADE
- Symphonic
Line RG-8L VDH MC 29 70 99
- ZYX Omega 4D G SB MC 29 69
98
- ZYX Omega 4D X SB MC 29 69
98
- Haniwa HCTR01 MC 28 69 97
- Shun
Mook Reference 2 MC 29 68
97
- Aidas Panzerholz MC 27 69 96
- Megasonics (Win
labs) MC-10 MC 27 69 96
- Charisma MC-2 MC 28 68
96
- EMT-Barco HSD-6 MC 28 68
96
- Kiseki Blue Gold Spot MC 28 68
96
- Krell/Miyabi KC-200 MC 28 68 96
- EMT HSD -5 MC 28 68 96
- Kiseki Blue Silver Spot MC 28 68
96
- MFSL Miyabi carbon MC 28 68 96
- Shinon Red
Boron (retip) MC 28 68 96
- Transfiguration Temper Supreme MC 28 68
96
- Transfiguration Orpheus MC 28 68 96
- J.Allaerts MC-1
Boron MC 28 68 96
- J.Allaerts MC1
B MKII (retip) MC 28 68 96
- ZYX Universe S MC 28 68 96
- ZYX Universe XS MC 28 68 96
- Koetsu
Urushi Gold SS retip MC 27 68 95
- Koetsu Onyx Platinum
Signature Diamond MC 27 68 95
- Blue Electric Shake
Streamliner MI 27 68 95
- Van Den Hul Black
Beauty XSP MC 27 68
95
- Myajima
Shilabe MC 27 68 95
- Benz
Micro RUBY Z MC 27 68
95
- Benz
Micro Ruby 2 MC 27 68 95
- Benz
Micro Ruby 3 MC 27 68 95
- Bluenote Baldinotti Signature SS retip MC 27 68 95
- Sound
Smith Voice MI 27 68 95
- Miyabi Cello MC 27 68
95
- Accuphase
MC-2 MC 27 68 95
- Brinkman Pi MC 27 68
95
- Dynavector Te
Kaitora Rua MC 28 67 95
- Miyabi/47
lab 4723 (bar base) MC 28 67 95
- Aidas BlackSound Diamond MC 28 67
95
- Aidas Purpleheart diamond MC 28 67
95
- Aidas Purpleheart ruby MC 28 67
95
- Goldbug Mrs.
Brier MC 28 67 95
- Shelter 9000 MC 28 67
95
- Dynavector
DRT
XV-1 MC 28 67 95
- Dynavector
DRT
XV-1S MC 28 67 95
- Dynavector
DRT
XV-1T MC 28 67 95
- AKG P-100E MI 28 67 95
- EMT Brinkman MC 28 67
95
- Transfiguration
Esprit MC 28 67
95
- Transfiguration
Spirit MC 28 67
95
- Transfiguration
Phoenix MC 28 67 95
- ZYX Yatra MC 28 67
95
- Thorens
MCT-88 MC 26 68
94
- ADC TRX-3 MM 26 68
94
- Linn Akiva MC 26 68
94
- Ortofon MC-25FL MC 27 67
94
- Monster Cable Genesis
2000 MC 27 67 94
- Dr.
Jazz Blue Note MC 27 67
94
- Benz
Micro RUBY MC 27 67
94
- Garrott Brothers P-87 MC 27 67 94
- Van
den Hul White Beauty MC 27 67 94
- Madrigal Carnegie-2 MC 27 67 94
- Aidas Red Heart Indian MC 27 67
94
- Aidas Red Heart Gabon MC 27 67 94
- EMT TU-3 MC 27 67
94
- Cardas Silver Heart Myrtle MC 27 67
94
- Koetsu Black MC 27 67
94
- Koetsu Black Goldline MC 27 67
94
- Koetsu Onyx MC 27 67 94
- Koetsu Onyx long body MC 27 67 94
- ADC Astrion MM 28 66
94
- Shinon Red MC 28 66
94
- Tsurugi Ceraloy MC 28 66 94
- Ikeda 9-CV/9-EM MC 28 66 94
- Sumiko Virtuoso
Dti MC 29 65 94
- Sumiko Black
Bird MC 29 65 94
- ADC TRX-1 MM 25 68
93
- ADC TRX-2 MM 25 68
93
- Korvet GZM 008 MM 26 67
93
- Denon S-1 MC 26 67
93
- Miyabi/47
lab 4723 (round base) MC 26 67 93
- Sony XL-55 MC 26 67
93
- Denon DL-107 MM 26 67 93
- Mark Levinson MLC-1 MC 27 66 93
- Benz
Micro REF MC 27 66 93
- Shelter 7000 MC 27 66
93
- EMT XSD-15 VDHul MC 27 66
93
- Aidas BlackSound ruby MC 27 66
93
- Charisma Ref
One MC 27 66 93
- Lyra Argo MC 27 66
93
- Rega Apheta MC 27 66
93
- Grace F-9R (Ruby) MM 27 66 93
- Technics EPC-
100C MKII MM 27 66 93
- Accuphase AC-1 MC 27 66
93
- Van Den Hul
Black Beauty S/S
retip MC 27 66 93
- Air Tight PC-1 MC 27 66
93
- Audio Note IO
I MC 27 66 93
- ZYX R100 H MC 27 66
93
- ZYX R1000 MC 27 66
93
- ZYX R1000 Ayry2/s MC 27 66 93
- Van
Den Hul Frog Gold MC 27 66
93
- Accuphase AC-3 MC 27 66
93
- Shelter 90X MC 27 66
93
- Benz
Micro Wood M2 MC 27 66
93
- Benz
Micro Wood H2 MC 27 66
93
- Audiotechnica 155MLX MM 28 65 93
- Denon A-100 MC 27 66
93
- AK
Labs S-921 MC 27 66
93
- Ak Labs EC-3
(SS retip) MC 27 66 93
- Supex SD-901 Super MK4 MC 27 66 93
- Dynavector DV-XX-1L
SS tip MC 27 66 93
- Kiseki Purpleheart(VDH tip) MC 28 65
93
- Goldbug Mr.
Brier MC 28 65 93
- Spectral
Reference Signature MC 28 65 93
- Monster
Cable Alpha 2HO Ruby MC 25 67 92
- EMT TSD-15 MC 27 65 92
- Mission 773
VDH re-tip MC 25 67 92
- Audioquest AQ
7000 retipped MC 25 67 92
- Goldbug Clement
II MC 25 67 92
- Argent MC-500HS MC 26 66 92
- Aidas AS-1 MC 26 66
92
- Denon 103SL Soundsmith MC 26 66
92
- AKG P-8 Aidas mods MI 26 66
92
- Clearaudio Victory
H MC 26 66 92
- Dynavector Karat
23R MC 26 66 92
- Dynavector Karat
Nova MC 26 66 92
- Van
Den Hul Frog MC 27 65 92
- Van Den Hul Grasshopper
GLA MC 27 65 92
- Van Den Hul Grasshopper
GLA III MC 27 65 92
- Van Den Hul Grasshopper
XGM III MC 27 65 92
- Van Den Hul Grasshopper
SLN III MC 27 65 92
- Van Den Hul Grasshopper
SLA III MC 27 65 92
- Van Den Hul Grasshopper
SLA MC 27 65 92
- Van Den Hul Grasshopper
GLZ MC 27 65 92
- Van Den Hul Grasshopper
XGP MC 27 65 92
- Charisma MC-1 MC 27 65
92
- Benz Micro MC-1 MC 27 65
92
- Benz
Micro REF 3 MC 27 65 92
- Clearaudio Concerto MC 27 65 92
- Dynavector
DV-XX-2 MKII MC 27 65 92
- Transfiguration AF-1 MC 27 65
92
- Shelter 901 MC 27 65
92
- Koetsu Rosewood MC 27 65 92
- Koetsu Rosewood Red MC 27 65
92
- Koetsu Urushi
Wajima MC 27 65 92
- Crown Jewel Reference MC 27 65 92
- ZYX R-50 Bloom MC 27 65 92
- Allnic Audio Verito Z MC 27 65 92
- Allnic Audio Puritas MC 27 65
92
- Elac EMC van den hul MC 27 65
92
- Ortofon SPU
Royal N MC 27 65
92
- Ortofon 70th
Anniversary MC 27 65 92
- Ortofon MC-3000 MC 27 65 92
- EMT XSD-15 MC 27 65 92
- Dynavector KaratDiamond
100D MC 27 65 92
- Dynavector Ultimo 20B MC 27 65 92
- Madrigal
Carnegie-2 Soundsmith
optym MC 28 64 92
- Cartridge
Man Music Maker MK III MI 25 66 91
- Elac ESG-795 Van D Hul MM 25 66
91
- Rata RP-70 VDH MM 25 66 91
- Entre MC-5 boron MC 26 65 91
- Shelter 501 MC 26 65 91
- Fidelity Researcch MC-44 MC 26 65
91
- Benz
Micro Glider H MC 26 65
91
- Benz Micro Glider L MC 26 65 91
- Shelter 501 MKII MC 26 65 91
- Dynavector Karat
23RS MC 26 65 91
- Linn Klyde MC 26 65
91
- Linn Arkiv/Arkiv B MC 26 65 91
- Van Den Hul One MC 26 65
91
- Sumiko Celebration
Pear MC 26 65 91
- Audiocraft AC-05 MC 26 65
91
- Fidelity Researcch MC-44 MC 26 65
91
- Empire MC-5 MC 27 64
91
- Van Den Hul Two MC 27 64
91
- Dynavector Karat
23 MC 27 64 91
- Empire/Van
Den Hul 1000 MC 27 64
91
- Benz
Micro Ace MC 27 64 91
- Lyra Lydian MC 27 64
91
- Lyra Helicon MC 27 64 91
- Shelter 301 MC 27 64
91
- Clearaudio Talismann MC 27 64 91
- Van Den Hul Colibri
XCP HO MC 27 64 91
- Monster
Cable H2O MC 24 66 90
- ELAC ESG-794 MM 25 65 90
- Audioquest AQ-7000
NSX MC 25 65 90
- Sony XL-88D retipped MC 25 65
90
- Ortofon 70th
Anniversary MC 25 65 90
- Ortofon Rohmann MC 25 65 90
- Linn Troika MC 26 64
90
- AKG P-8 ES Super Nova MI 26 64 90
- Denon 103D MC 26 64
90
- Denon DL-103C MC 26 64
90
- Denon DL-103S MC 26 64
90
- Denon DL-103FL MC 26 64 90
- Audiotechnica ART 9 MC 26 64
90
- Sensitive
Sound Splash 5 MC 26 64 90
- Wilson
Benesch PLY MC 27 63
90
- Supex 900 Super MC 27 63 90
- Highphonic A-300 MC 27 63
90
- Audiotechnica At-37E MC 27 63
90
- Van Den Hul MC-10 MC 27 63 90
- Bluenote Boboli MC 27 63
90
- Dynavector DV 50x MC 27 63 90
- Dynavector 20X L MC 27 63
90
- Dynavector 20X S MC 27 63
90
- Dynavector D20B MC 27 63
90
- Grado The Reference MI 28 62 90
- Grado Ref Master MI 28 62 90
- Ortofon Jubilee MC 25 64
89
- Technics P23
(boron) MM 25 64 89
- Cartridge
Man Music Maker 3 MI 25 64 89
- Linn Asaka MC 25 64
89
- Linn Karma MC 25 64
89
- Audiotechnica AT-33 EV MC 24 64 88
- Audiotechnica AT-15 SS MM 26 63 89
- Ortofon MC-2000 MK II MC 26 63 89
- Technics P-23
boron MM 26 63 89
- Nagaoka MP-500 MM 26 63 89
- Nagaoka MP-50 MM 26 63
89
- Denon DL-103 MC 26 63 89
- Denon DL-103LC MC 26 63
89
- Denon DL-103LC II MC 26 63 89
- Denon DL-103U MC 26 63 89
- Denon DL-305 MC 26 63 89
- EMT TMD-65 MONO MC 26 63
89
- EMT TSD-25 MONO MC 26 63
89
- Coral MC-82 VDH MC 26 63
89
- Audiocraft AC-03 MC 26 63
89
- ADC MC 1.5 MC 26 63
89
- Dynavector 10 x 4 MC 27 62
89
- Dynavector 10
x 5 MC 27 62 89
- Sumiko BPS
EVO III MC 29 60
89
- Supex SD-901 Super MC 27 62 89
- Dynavector 17D2
MKII MC 27 62 89
- Fidelity
Research FR-7F MC 28 61
89
- Excel MC-100E MC 23 65 88
- Audiotechnica AT-160 ML MM 25 63
88
- Audiotechnica AT-170 MM 25 63 88
- Cello Limited MI 26 62 88
- Hana EH MC 26 62
88
- Audiotechnica AT-8008 MM 24 64 88
- Audioqest AQ-909 MC 25 63 88
- ADC Integra MKIII MM 25 63 88
- Linn Asak MC 25 63
88
- Audiotechnica 150E MM 25 63
88
- Townshend EEI
MCP555 MC 25 63 88
- Clearaudio Sigma MC 25 63
88
- Decca Super Gold MI 25 63 88
- AKG P-8 ES MI 26 62
88
- Audiotechnica ART 1 MC 26 62 88
- Audiotechnica ART 2000 MC 26 62
88
- Fidelity
Research FR-45 MC 26 62
88
- Fidelity
Research FR-44 MC 26 62
88
- Shure V15 VXMR MM 26 62 88
- Ortofon MC-2000 MC 26 62 88
- Ortofon MC-200MKII MC 26 62 88
- Denon DL-304 MC 26 62 88
- Ortofon Black MM 26 62
88
- Ortofon MC-10 Supreme MC 26 62 88
- Audiocraft AC-01 MC 26 62
88
- Accuphase AC-3
(Soundsmith) MC 27 61 88
- Van Den Hul MC-10
retipped MC 27 61 88
- Dynavector 10 x 2 MC 27 61
88
- Dynavector 10
x 3 MC 27 61
88
- Grado Platinum H MI 28 60 88
- Grado Platinum L MI 28 60 88
- Grado Sonata MI 28 60
88
- Sumiko Blue
Point Special MC 29 59 88
- Audiotechnica AT-13EA MM 24 63
87
- Audiotechnica AT-6006 MM 24 63 87
- Ortofon MC-30 MC 24 63 87
- Technics EPC-300MC MC 24 63 87
- Linn K9 MM 25 62
87
- Adcom HC VDH II MC 25 62 87
- Ortofon Kontrapunkt
B MC 25 62 87
- Ortofon Kontrapunkt
A MC 25 62 87
- McIntosh MC-1000 MC 25 62 87
- Audioquest AQ-S100 MC 25 62 87
- Audiotechnica AT-125LC MM 25 62
87
- Audiotechnica AT-20 S MM 25 62 87
- Audiotechnica AT-440 MLa MM 25 62
87
- Coral 777S MC 25 62
87
- Decca Maroon MI 25 62
87
- Van
Den Hul MM-2 MM 26 61 87
- Denon DL-301 MC 26 61 87
- Denon DL-301 II MC 26 61 87
- Denon DL-300 MC 26 61 87
- Denon DL-302 MC 26 61 87
- Denon DL-303 MC 26 61 87
- Denon DL-110 MC 26 61 87
- Denon DL-160 MC 26 61 87
- Dynavector DV-20X MC 27 60 87
- Grace F-9L MM 26 61
87
- Grace F-9E MM 26 61
87
- Audiotechnica AT-OC9
MLII MC 26 61 87
- Phase Tech P-3
Alexandrite MC 26 61 87
- MY
Sonic Lab Eminent MC 26 61 87
- Empire LTD 250 MM 26 61
87
- Empire LTD 250 MM 26 61
87
- Empire LTD 450 MM 26 61
87
- Empire LTD 750 MM 26 61 87
- Fidelity
Research FR1-MKII MC 26 61 67
- Goldring 2500 MM 26 61
87
- Fidelity
Research MC-201 MC 27 60 87
- Ortofon MC-20 Super MC 26 61
87
- Ortofon X3-MC MC 26 61 87
- Audiotechnica AT-3100 XE MM 24 62
86
- Audiotechnica At 32 MC 24 62 86
- Audiotechnica AT-32E MC 24 62 86
- AKG P-8 E MI 24 62
86
- Adcom XC MR MC 24 62 86
- AKG P-25 MD MI 24 62 86
- Goldring Eroica
H MC 25 61 86
- Boston MC 1E MC 25 61 86
- Elac EMM-290 VDH MM 25 61
86
- Audioquest AQ-404B MC 25 61 86
- Audiotechnica AT-14E MM 25 61
86
- Audiotechnica AT-15E MM 25 61
86
- Audiotechnica AT-140 ML MM 25 61
86
- Audiotechnica AT-150 Ti MM 25 61 86
- Audiotechnica AT-23 MM 25 61
86
- Empire 1080LT MM 25 61 86
- Sony VL-32G MM 25 61 86
- Sumiko Andante FGV MM 25 61
86
- Technics 310 MC 25 61 86
- Van Den Hul MM-1 MM 26 60
86
- Elac EMC Van Den Hul MC 26 60
86
- Denon DL-80A MC 26 60 86
- Grace F-8E MM 26 60
86
- Audiotechnica AT-OC9 MC 26 60 86
- Audiotechnica AT-33PTG MC 26 60 86
- Audiotechnica AT-OC7 MC 26 60 86
- Audiotechnica AT-OC5 MC 26 60 86
- Benz Micro MC-20 MC 26 60 86
- Denon 103GL MC 26 60
86
- Kiseki Milltek MC 26 60
86
- Clearaudio Virtuoso
Wood MM 26 60 86
- Ortofon SPU-G MC 26 60
86
- Ortofon MC-10 MC 26 60
86
- Ortofon MC-20 MC 26 60
86
- Ortofon X1-MC MC 26 60 86
- Clearaudio Symphony MC 27 59 86
- AK
Labs ES-30 MC 27 59
86
- GAS Sleeping Beauty S MC 27 59
86
- Goldring Eroica
L MC 25 60 85
- Entre EC-1 MC 24 61
85
- Bang & Olufsen MMC-2 MI 24 61 85
- Audiotechnica AT-13E MM 24 61 85
- Audiotechnica AT-14EA MM 24 61 85
- Audiotechnica AT-30E MM 24 61 85
- Audiotechnica AT-450 E MM 24 61
85
- Audiotechnica ATP-1/2/3 MM 24 61 85
- Technics 205C-
IX MM 25 60 85
- Grace F-9P MM 25 60
85
- Shure V15 II MM 25 60
85
- Shure V15 II I MM 25 60 85
- Shure V15 IV MM 25 60
85
- Audiotechnica AT-13D MM 25 60 85
- Empire 2000E IV MM 25 60
85
- Empire 4000DT MM 25 60 85
- Audiotechnica AT-120 EG MM 25 60 85
- Audio Note IQ-2 MM 25 60
85
- Bang & Olufsen SP 10 MM 25 60
85
- Bang & Olufsen SP 12 MM 25 60
85
- Bang & Olufsen SP 15 MM 25 60
85
- Technics 205C-
II MM 25 60 85
- Ortofon HMC-30 MC 25 60 85
- Sumo Sumo II MC 25 60 85
- Goldbug Clement MC 25 60 85
- Goldbug Medusa MC 25 60 85
- Ortofon Sl-20 MC 25 59
84
- Clearaudio Classic
Aurum Wood MM 27 58 85
- Monster
Cable Alpha 1000 MKII MC 27 58 85
- ADC Super XLM MM 23 61 84
- Audiotechnica AT-3003 MM 24 60 84
- AKG P-10S MI 24 60
84
- AKG P-15 MD MI 24 60 84
- AKG P-6E MI 24 60
84
- Tonorel T-2001D MM 24 60 84
- Sony XL-33 MM 24 60 84
- Sony XL-44 MM 24 60
84
- Audiotechnica AT-10 MM 24 60 84
- Audiotechnica AT-100E MM 24 60
84
- Audiotechnica AT-11 MM 24 60 84
- Bang & Olufsen MMC-1 MI 24 60 84
- Audiotechnica AT-110 MM 24 60 84
- Ortofon Sl-15 MC 25 59
84
- Technics 207C-
II MM 25 59 84
- Apature KOCE MC 26 58
84
- Sumiko Andante
E MM 24 59 83
- Audioquest B100 MC 25 58
83
- Acutex 312 STR MM 25 58 83
- Audiotechnica AT-12E MM 24 58
82
- Adcom GFC MC 24 58
82
- Adcom XC LT MC 24 58
82
- Audioquest AQ-606 MC 25 57 82
- Arkam C77 MM 24 57 81
- Arkam E77 MM 24 57
81
- Fidelity Research MCX-5 MC 24 57 81
- Ortofon Red MM 26 55
81
- Sony VL-37G MM 26 54 80
- Win Labs SDT-10
MK2 SG 25 55 80
- Micro
Acoustic MA-382 EC 25 55 80
- Ortofon Rondo
Red MC 25 55 80
- Acutex 307 MM 25 55 80
- Acutex 310 MM 25 55
80
- ADC QLM36 MM 22 57 79
- Shure 92 MM 23 56
79
- Shure M3 MM 25 54
79
- ADC LMF-2 MM 22 56
78
- ADC 10 MM 22 56
78
- ADC QLM30 II MM 22 56 78
- ADC 220XE MM 23 55
78
- Shure M7 MM 24 54
78
- ADC 1 MM 22 55
77
- ADC K7 MM 22 55
77
- Decca Gold MI 25 52
77
- Empire 108 MM 25 52
77
- Victor MD-106 MM 22 54
76
- Technics U-25 MM 25 50 75
- ADC 660E MM 22 50
72
- Garrott P-66 MM 23 49
72
- Nagaoka NM-33S MM 22 49 71
- Rega Bias-2 MM 22 49 71
- Rega Bias MM 22 48
70
