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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
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
3,901 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
6,388 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
6,628 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.
tablejockey OP
3,901 posts
 
stereo5-

Thanks  for the suggestion. I had a Sumiko Blackbird repaired by SS year ago.
I forgot SS isn't the only game in town.

I'm really hoping my ART 9 is salvageable. I'm done with $1K+ carts for awhile.
They sound wonderful, but as mentioned earlier, my system is finally at a point it will  allow an inexpensive cart to shine.

boxer12-it's internal. The stylus is fine. It was a one time, sale final kinda thing.
Its a shame, I REALLY enjoyed it. A nice slice of what the fuss is all about.
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