Cartridge recommendation for classical listening

"The CJ IS a tubed preamp."
Perfect, you can go directly to a P8/10!!

For about a year i have two different cartridges and tonearms on one turntable connected to one mc/mm phono stage. This is the combination i am using most of the time for some reason.

1) High mass Lustre GST-801 tonearm with low compliance Miyabi MCA cartridge. WLM Phonata Reference (MC input) mosfet phono stage with built-in SUT.

2) Light mass Denon DA-401 tonearm with high compliance Grado Signature XTZ (MI) cartridge WLM Phonata Reference (MM input). Never heard any hum from my Grado XTZ.

Both cartridges are top class, but entirely different, it’s low compliance LOMC versus high compliance MI. Tonearms are perfectly matched.

It’s impossible to say which one is better!

1) Miyabi MCA is warm with very deep soundstage, great bass. Made in Japan by Takeda-San.


2) Grado XTZ is also warm with very wide soundstage. Made in USA by Joseph Grado.

Cartridges are different, but both are amazing in its own way.

This is the reason i never understand the statement that MC is better than MI by default, it is not true.

I wouldn’t listen to people that never had all types of cartridges for a long time using the best in its class (LOMC, HOMC, MM, MI, IM, MF)

Honestly, even if on a weekend i prefer one type of cartridges i know that there will be another weekend when my preferences will change to another type. It is absolutely necessary to have all types ready to use, for this reason i have two turntables, many phono stages, suts, headamps connected to 4 different tonearms with pretty big collection of cartridges on the record shelfs.

I think none of my top 25 cartridges can disappoint me, no matter what type (LOMC or MM/MI). Record pressing or mastering can disappoint me. The rest is all about the mood.

I like the process and i like the result. 5-10 years ago i tried many cartridges that disappointed me, i don’t have them anymore.

I curious what i’m gonna do in the next 10 years ? I believe most of the greatest vintage cartridges from the 70s/80s/90s already discovered.

Now that I have several hours on the cart (playing it almost all the time,). It is sounding even better. Along with the definition and detail has come a sweetness and warmth I didn’t expect.  Very happy with it!

@rvpiano great, now while you are enjoying your new cartridge you’d better send your Grado MI for inspection to make sure the stylus is not worn out.

The hum problem is gone with Sumiko ?

It is always worth to get back to the old cartridge after a few month of using new one. Then you can make a honest opinion to make sure you’re not just biased by the new toy :)) If you need more definition use your Grado with 100k Ohm loading instead of 47k Ohm.

Since the stylus tip on your Sumiko is just an Elliptical (you have the same on Grado) i don’t quite understand how you can get a better definition, probably what you hear is a typical MC high frequency raise and some sort of coloration you might prefer over neutrality of the Grado.

Look at the specs:
Your Grado: 10Hz - 60khz
Your Sumiko: 10Hz - 50khz

As you can see the specs for your Grado is slightly better. 

I’m using my Grado XTZ with 100k Ohm Vishay Naked Foil resistors, i have replaced conventional cheap stock 47k Ohm load resistors in my phono stage (just two resistors) and it was a huge upgrade!

The XTZ Grado has superior stylus profile called TWIN TIP.
You could upgrade your Grado with better stylus profile, not sure if the Grado Labs can do that for you, but you can ask.