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Cartridge for Technics SL-1200/1210GR

Hi All,
I recently took the plunge and got a gently used Technics SL-1210GR. I have a Sutherland Ph3d phone preamp. It has 40-60db of gain options and loading options of 100, 200, 1k, 10k, and 47k. I'm trying to limit myself to what I can get from Music Direct so that I can do a trade in of my current cartridge - Sumiko Blue Point Special Evo III. Here's what I'm seeing on their website that interests me:
Audio Technica AT-OC9MXL $550
Audio Technica AT-OC9XSH $650
Audio Technica AT-OC9XSL $730
Hana SL or SH (It weighs less than what Technics says to use, but I've read about people using it on my table. So, I don't know) $750
Audio Technica AT 33Sa $770
Soundsmith Carmen $1000. I don't really want to spend this much, but am interested because of the value of the rebuild pricing structure.
Any thoughts on these cartridges for this table? Or how any of these cartridges would compare to my existing cartrdge?
Thanks so much!
vanderstephen
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
My P77 came from Brian and John Garrott back in the mid ’80’s and was fitted with their Microscanner stylus - which I believe is a MicroLine of some sort. I never got a replacement stylus, just moved onto something else.

Brian and John never used Boron cantilever in their Dynamic Coil cartridges for some reason and i believe they knew what they've been doing to make P77 sound sweet with aluminum cantilever.   

Frankly I’m surprised the SAS stylus works at all because the carrier looks nothing like the original Garrott.....but I was encouraged by others that had tried the SAS on the P77 variants.

I think that SAS replacement originally was made for Shure cartridge. 



sdrsdrsdr
196 posts
 
@chakster 

i noticed your list doesn’t include some of your past favourites and wondered why. Do they not measure up to the others for you anymore?
Stanton 881 and 981, (although you do mention Pickering). 
Glanz MFG61, I remember you were very fond of this one too.
Grace F14.
I’m guessing the second two are maybe too rare to bother mentioning.

Steve.

chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@sdrsdrsdr  Basically the Stanton 881s is Pickering XSV/3000. These models surpassed by Pickering XSV/4000 which i discovered last year. The XSV/5000 is even better and equal to Stanton 980/981. The best of them all in my opinion is Stanton SC-100 WOS (it was the latest and the only signature model from Walter Stanton). I collect Stanton/Pickering carts, they are very nice. 

Grace is another passion, no more F9. Much better F14 and LEVEL II models is what i really like, and i collect original styli for them, very hard to find models. 

I put my Glanz 61 on the shelf, because i temporary removed my Reed 3p tonearm (it was superb on this arm). This cartridge is impossible to find anyway.
sdrsdrsdr
196 posts
 
@chakster 

Thanks  for the info on the mm’s. I was curious about the Glanz 61 as I have an nos  one that I was saving for a special occasion to try. How did you find the Glanz ranked with your other favourites?

 I have my 881s on a 9.5 wenge reed 2a that’s sounding very good. Not sure if my atml180 was the best match that arm though. Neither was my Ikeda. Next I’ll try it on my 12” cocbollo reed 2a. Do you recommend the Glanz on your 12” reed 3P as best. Steve.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@sdrsdrsdr LOL, I expected this is the reason you asked for such a rare cartridge :)) It’s nice to have a NOS Glanz 61, lucky you. On my Reed 3p "12 it was great, this is it. An old US importer of Reed tonearms (Steve Dobbins) also ranked Glanz 61 very high. Replaced $5k ZYX Premium 4D with Glanz 61 i never regret ZYX. Later I’ve been using Stanton low impedance version 980LZS on the same Reed. The AT-ML180 was very nice on Reed too (and i would rank this cartridge higher than Glanz) ! The last MM cartridge on Reed i enjoyed a lot was my vintage garrott p77.

Glanz 61 is nice and it was one of those first vintage MM (after Technics carts) that flipped my opinion about MC/MM in general. I discovered many more great MM later and once i will put my Reed back I’m gonna check this out again.

If you will compare AT-ML180 to the Glanz 61 let us know.
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