High output MC cartridges
Grado + Rega + Oracle = hum. I liked the Grado, minus the hum, but I liked my Grace F9 better. My Grado is dead quiet just like any cartridge from my big collection of Grace. If you like F-9 then LC-OFC versions of the F14 and LEVEL II is the way to go. So the reasons for a HOMC are several. One, MI on my system have hummed. You know why? Two, my tube pre-amp has a 47k Ohm RIAA phono stage, no go zone for LOMC’s. Most LOMC are fine with 47k Ohm, all you need is much more gain |
The Zephyr was in your price range. The Grado is not humming because of your system. It is humming because it does not like your turntable. Get one with a DC motor or far outboard motor. I have zero experience with Soundsmith cartridges but plenty with Grado's. The Ref 2 is a noticeably better cartridge than the Ortofon 2M Black to which I have compared it. It is also twice the price. I have not compared it to other MM cartridges. Horny guy, get another Grace F9 and save yourself the indigestion. My ability comes from a great education, a questioning mind and experience. It bothers me that you do not understand the relationship of mass to inertia. Are our high schools really failing our kids that badly? |
I’ve just noticed that “the horn” asked for comparisons between the Blackbird and the Dynavector. He did not ask for opinions on HOMC cartridges. So, I would say, first don’t buy an HOMC. There are many great MM and MI cartridges in the ca $1000 price area and below that are more likely to thrill you. Second, if you feel compelled to do so, I would choose the Dynavector based on my own less than good experience with a Blackbird and many favorable reports on the Dynavector. But I never heard the latter in my system. |
I had wonderful experience with various Dynavector cartridges including rare HOMC DV30A, but the most impressive were LOMC like 17DS and 23RS MR, now i have NOS 17D2 on the shelf |
