2. analog
  3. 149658-7

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.  


pops
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Cheap modern MM cartridges is like listening to music with a blanket on each speakers. A waste of time in high-end system. Much better to pay more for a decent vintage MM if you really want to find out what this technology is all about.

What is "cheapo" in high-end world today ?

A $100-200 cartridge is like a free gift, some good MC cost $2k, some of them cost $5k and many of them cost $15k today.

I believe anything under $1k is a cheap cartridge for audiophiles.

Even a brand new japanese Coreless Straight-flux MI cartridge (invented by former Grace engineer few years ago) starts from $14k, they made two models :)

For about $400-900 you can find spectacular MM from the golden age. Audio-Technica is only one of them, there are Grace F9, Victor X1IIe, Stanton 881s, Pickering XSV3000 .... and these brand made higher models too, more expensive, but simply amazing.   

Good luck in your search and if you need help send me a message. 
sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
Price is not an indicator of performance above $500 for MM cartridges and above $1000 for MC. Law of Diminishing Returns applies here. 
robelvick's avatar
robelvick
619 posts
 
I 2nd the Nagaoka suggestions.  Just picked up an MP-200 a few weeks ago, and it's fantastic.

Super fine elliptical diamond stylus, and boron cantilever.  Quiet, smooth, and nice warm details.  Listening to it is a real joy.
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,552 posts
 
The Audio Technica has great depth and etched high frequencies. But there's some grain or slight harshness in the rendition.

So I compared my AT VM540SH with my Decca Super Gold/Paratrace and Decca Garrott Export and both Decca's really are in another league. 

Dark, quiet backgrounds, voices that sound real, speakers disappeared, but most absolutely the difference is that the Decca makes music with emotion. No contest, notwithstanding the priced difference.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
12,865 posts
 
Dear @pops  : You don't need to look for vintage cartridges when you can own today really good cartridge performers coming from many solid and well regarded manufacturers as: Ortofon, Nagaoka, Grado, SoundSmith, Audio Note, Audio Technica, Goldring, Clearaudio and others. With the advantage that you have a manufacturer warranty for your unit and for the replacement stylus when you need it.
Only you need is to go to those manufacturers sites, here Audio Technica:

https://www.audio-technica.com/cgi-bin/product_search/cartridges/cartridges.pl?lang=eng  

Btw, @noromance  it's obvious that a 249.00 cartridge can't compete with that Decca but for its low price is better performer that what we can think. Audio Technica has all alternatives for any audiophile but other manufacturers have good options too. Audio Note MM are excellent.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
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