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
 
I have an old moving coil Denon 103, it’s a little dark for an MC, but the midrange is killer. My other favorite is the Nagaoka MP-11 Boron, which to me sounds almost exactly like the Denon.

Maybe for certain genre of music, or maybe in a horn system ... 
103 conical is definitely not my type of sound, not for everyone

Personally, I prefer the conical stylus from the MP-10 for my vintage jazz Micro-groove LPs....     Because to me the conical stylus sounds better ... 

It explains a lot, different preferences, indeed

Nagaoka has built almost the exact same line of cartridges for over forty years.  Only  subtle changes have been made.  So clearly, they must be doing something right, as they are still enjoyed by many.


I believe Nagaoka / Jeweltone MP-50 or MP-500 with Boron cantilever and some nice stylus profile are good MM, not sure how many people are using them with conical tip over its LineContact. 
audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,018 posts
 
Sumiko moonstone mm cartridge $299
Audio technica at f7 mc cartridge $250

I'll be grabbing both, just because I can lol...but seriously, both well reviewed and pretty cheap for what you get. 
Fremer loved the sumiko and what hifi gave the AT 4 out of 5 stars...
iopscrl
199 posts
 
Shure V15-111 with a Jico stylus

Empire EDR .9

Both are outstanding MM cartridges that are easy found md relatively inexpensive.   

Sonics are wonderful- quiet backgrounds, deep bass, clean midrange and extended HF response.   Both require low mass arms to perform at their best.   
normansizemore
601 posts
 
iopscrl

I agree.  I still have a Shure V15III.  I have also found the Pickering XSV 3000 to an outstanding cartridge.  So many to choose from.  

N.  
vpi's avatar
vpi
223 posts
 
@rauliruegas  I'm wondering if in your experience with many, many cartridges you have auditioned the Denon 103 M.  As I am sure you know the M is quite different from all the other 103's.  i picked mine up for $250 and, while it is not up to my far more expensive mc cartridges, for the price it is very nice.
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