You can't go wrong with either an Audio Technica VM540ML (brighter) or Nagaoka MP110 or 150 for bang for the buck.
Best cheapo Cartridge
In a bind, I have 2 cartridges that have seen better days. My Ortofon Jubilee has at least 1500 hours on it and I’m starting to hear a drop in performance. My Transfiguration Proteus only has 450 hours but is on the fritz and they are OOB.
I have too many irons in the fire to spend alot and need one to hold me over for a while. Thinking about a MM, like Ortofon or Grado. Would be mating with a Basis Vector 4 tonearm, Basis 2200 sig, and either Allnic H3000 or ARC PH 5. Speakers are Thiels.
Analog heads please give me some advice. I have no experience with MM or MI or than many cartridges in my system for that matter.
I have too many irons in the fire to spend alot and need one to hold me over for a while. Thinking about a MM, like Ortofon or Grado. Would be mating with a Basis Vector 4 tonearm, Basis 2200 sig, and either Allnic H3000 or ARC PH 5. Speakers are Thiels.
Analog heads please give me some advice. I have no experience with MM or MI or than many cartridges in my system for that matter.
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If you want something very special with huge potential over your expensive MC then look for vintage MM cartridges with the best cantilevers and styli. This is the best performance for reasonable price, none of the modern MM can compete with Audio-Technica AT-ML170 (Gold-Plated Boron Cantilever and MicroLine stylus), it’s cheap compared to overpriced modern MC, but not cheap compared to some modern MM (most of them are nothing special btw). On the lower side the next model to the mighly AT-ML170 is the AT-ML150 (Beryllium Cantilever with MicroLine tip). Both cartridges will destroy all that Nagaoka, Sumiko, Grado and bla-bla-bla. Vintage AT-ML series (models 150,170,180) from the 80’s are killer MM. Industry professionals have been using them for disc mastering, read this article. Look for the cartridges with Boron or Beryllium cantilevers and the nude diamonds with the longest life-span (such as MicroLine, MicroRidge, LineContact, Shibata). Ignore the cartridges with aluminum cantilevers and elliptical diamonds they will never get you there. MM technology is not a trend of today, it was a king tech back in the 70s/80s. Ignore all the cheap MM of today, it's just a waste of time |
- 72 posts total