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Phono cartridge suggestions sought

Hi All,

 I am in the market for a new phono cartridge. I can run up to $1400 but would prefer not to if i can get the performance I want. 

I listen to predominantly Jazz on vinyl, though some rock, folk and classical also gets spun

I recently heard a Hana SL and Rega Apheta at a dealers—different decks, same room and system. Both sounded good although the Apheta was not as heavy sounding and at the same time sounded more “present”. I wasn’t really looking at the Apheta, but it was available to listen to. 

The room is accoustically live with lots of glass and hard surfaces but all sounds good. 

System: Naim Atom, Bryston TT, Parasound JC jr phono stage (so huge loading flexibility and gain up to the 60’s), Totem Acoustics Signature Ones, Transparent cables. Current cart: Denon 103r with 250 hours on it, so it is winding down. 

I have enjoyed the Denon. But wondering about that all elusive “more.”

on paper spec, nobody touches the Grados for channel separation, but not sure how essential a criterion that should be. Especially since I worked hard to tame some RFI from a nearby antenna and the Grados I have heard said are not well-shielded. 

Since my Totems only drop down to 45 Hz, I suppose absolute resolution on the low end could be sacrificed for other sonic goods. 

Ok, hive mind, what do you suggest?
dramatictenor
dramatictenor OP
183 posts
 
From Andrew Ballew:

Overall, the Denon is a better cart to my ears. Oh, and the intermodulation distortion I was getting has been greatly reduced. Only happens on a couple offending albums, now.  

But, this shouldn't be, right?? I have seen the question popped on several forums, including this one, I think. The answer is always the Denon is a low compliance cart and WILL NOT WORK with a Rega arm.  

I'm not really sure where that comes from. If you have heard the combo, you know it works fine. If you do the math, combining the Denon with a Rega arm gives you a resonant frequency of 11.3 hz. Static compliance of the Denon is widely thought to be around 10 (rule of thumb seems to be double the stated compliance of a Japanese cart). Rega arm (RB303) is estimated to be 11 grams. The Denon Cart is 8.5 grams. 

What the resonance frequency should be is arguable. But it seems that the range between 8hz and 12 hz is considered acceptable. And, my math says I am right there. 
yeti42's avatar
yeti42
287 posts
 
I thought 1.7 was the factor to convert compliance at 100Hz to that at 10Hz. This gives 8.5 and with a Rega 300 at 11.5 gives a resonance of 12 to 13 Hz, a little high which, might be part of the reason for the popularity of heavier alternative bodies.
dramatictenor OP
183 posts
 
Yeti,
I was merely sharing another audiophile's thinking. What I do feel comfortable saying is that our math doesn't always describe the real world...which is another way of saying that there are often factors that we can't always describe at current state of knowledge, but which challenge orthodox thinking regardless. 

I don't know why the Denon sounds good on this table, but it does. That said, I am still hesitating to pull the trigger on something that hopefully will sound great. 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Maybe it is not just about math and resonance in theory, the low compliance cartridge just better on superheavy tonearms, they are designed for superheavy tonearms, change the arm to something with 20-30g effective mass and your Denon will be better on heavy arm. Very simple. With heavy arm like Fidelity-Research FR-64s you can only improve the sound of your Denon 103.


Static compliance of the Denon is widely thought to be around 10 (rule of thumb seems to be double the stated compliance of a Japanese cart).


You need dynamic compliance, no static.
And yes ... x 1.7 ... to find out the number at 10Hz



@yeti42

I’m going to try an SPU Royal N on an arm I can get up to 18g affective mass and it’s a heavy cartridge.

My SPU Royal G mkII was very impressive on FR-64fx and Lustre GST-801 tonearms, with its modern Replicant 100 stylus it will put any oldschool cartridges like DL-103 to a shame. The Royal N is just the same, but without SPU headshell if i remember correct. If you have high mass tonearm you can also look for FR-7fz or Miyabi cartridges.  





dramatictenor OP
183 posts
 
Thanks chakster! I 
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