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Best MM?

I want to try a MM with my Herron VTPH-2a. What's the best one? Maestro 2, Zephyr III, AT VM760SLC? Something else?
dhcod
dgarretson
2,598 posts
 

There’s a nice NOS Stanton 981 HZ MkII on ebay at the moment. At $1K it’s a bit high-- but perhaps reasonable inflation above the $650 that I paid for an ebayed NOS 981 LZS about five years ago. The 981 LZS is quite close to my Lyra Etna, as compared side to side on two SME 3012Rs. That comparison is not entirely fair, as the Lyra has the advantage of an Arche headshell with upgraded silver wires...

I also have a 4PT, but have not gotten around to mounting the Stanton on it.  As mentioned above, for on-the-fly cartridge comparisons(and is there any other kind of comparison that is definitive?) it helps to have multiple arms and removable headshells. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stanton-981-HZ-Mk-IIs-Moving-Magnet-Phono-Cartridge-with-Stanton-D98-IIs-Stylus/142983365338?hash=item214a7902da:g:bNUAAOSwYcBbzLWG:rk:4:pf:0

chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@vortrex

If I was going to acquire one vintage MM to compare with the Audio Note IQ3, which would it be? It must be compatible with a Kuzma 4Point (13g) and be somewhat easy to find, preferably NOS.

It can be a Victor X-1II, simply because it’s a mid compliance cartridge which is fine for Kuzma.
Stanton, for example, is High Compliance and works best on lightmass tonearms in theory.
jollytinker
213 posts
 
I'd love to try a MM cart myself but I always get stuck between my distrust for used cartridges, on the one hand, and the fact that NOS carts that have been sitting on a shelf for decades sound like a bad idea to me (dried up suspension rubber).  

Any thoughts out there about how to cut the Gordian Knot on this?  I'm open to the idea that MC cartridges made some advances but also brought some trade-offs with them, as most new technologies do.   
jollytinker
213 posts
 
... and apologies if I'm hijacking the thread - I promise to report back :_) 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@jollytinker 

I always get stuck between my distrust for used cartridges, on the one hand, and the fact that NOS carts that have been sitting on a shelf for decades sound like a bad idea to me (dried up suspension rubber).    

There is something in between which is the best for you, it's a NOS cartridge checked by the seller whom you can trust. 

But personally i prefer NOS, they are highly collectible.

I've had only 3 cartridges in 7 years with bad suspension and all of them weren't NOS. My personal experience with NOS is the best experience! 

 
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