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Cheap cart confession

I'm in the forced audio gear buy mode, since my $2500 retail cart isn't being honored by warranty. No emergency decent cart to use. I was able to purchase it as a "once on a lifetime" dealer buy.

Meanwhile, just for kicks...

Ortofon OM5. It's been in a drawer for years. $50 plasticky,throw away replacing a $2500 machined aluminum body cartridge  that came in an equally attractive, nice smelling wooden box. My table setup/phono pre was $6-7Kish when new?

I'm being reminded by what I hear. If everything AFTER the cart is in reasonable order(synergy?) even a throw away cart will play the magic! It may be veiled,a little mushy and such, but I can still enjoy it more than my  CD deck thru a R2R DAC. It's very clean and precise, but it doesn't have the unexplainable, hold my attention for long quality.

Because my disposable play money is divided into a few thing outside of audio crap, I'm going backward with the next cartridge. I just can't wait and save for something substantial. Thank goodness my ears/brain can accept the horror!

I purchased an already marked down+ additional discount  low end model that I think will perform great(for the price) 

Under $400 Nirvana! Should have it on the table by mid week. 

tablejockey
boxer12
8,656 posts
 
Not surprised... What the more expensive carts offer (not all though) is greater refinement. If you're interested in experimenting with some older MM/MI's, the "raul" thread has some great suggestions in it. Have you thought about re-tipping the $2500 cart? May not be as expensive as a replacement, especially if you liked it. 
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
The Denon 103 mc cartridges are still the best value in the sub-$500 category! Go a but higher and there are the Hana MC's. And the various Grado MI's have long been another good alternative.
tablejockey OP
3,920 posts
 
DENON 103-I'm limited to something @ .3/4 mv at best. I don't want to bother with a step up. Considered the Hana.

I went Soundsmith, just to try MI in my system. I've heard them demoed by Peter. Very nice. Entry level Otello on the cheap. I'm expecting good results.

If I had a no holds barred setup, I would have the Strain gauge setup.  Im done being obsessed with chasing perfection I can't afford. Just listening to the actual music these days. Get it to an acceptable level-sit back with a beer.

I have a crashed ART9 I need to send off to SS for evaluation. Perhaps next tax return I will treat my self to another ART9 or go up the food chain with SS?

ANY armchair cartridge gurus here? Expand at the attached pic of the ART9.

https://www.lpgear.com/product/ATART9.html

The cantilever assembly is completely gone on mine-not broken. If you notice in the picture,  it appears the cantilever is fitted into a sleeve assembly?I see an empty sleeve, as if the cantilever simply were pulled clean from the sleeve. Would this indicate a cantilever replacement? I know a typical snapped cantilever is fixed with a new one just glued on the stub. I'm wondering if a cantilever assembly can be inserted back into the sleeve, effectively making the cart "like new?" 




stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,414 posts
 
Call Andy at the Needle Clinic.  He replaced a cantilever and stylus on my ZU DL103 cartridge for half the price of what Soundsmith  wanted. He also returned within a week.  I am one extremely satisfied customer.  
big_greg
6,653 posts
 
I wanted to set up one of the two turntables in my main system with an inexpensive cartridge for used records.  I bought a Shure V15 Type 4 with a broken stylus off ebay, a JICO SAS replacement stylus, and some capacitance loading plugs to tame the brightness of the V15 and I'm pretty happy with the results.  All in it was about $390 and I'm really pleased with the sound.
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