Based on my experience as the owner of the Alpha 2 many years ago:
First of all, heed the fact that it’s output is .3 mv. If your preamp and overall gain structure of your system is comfortable with this output level, read on.
Good cartridge. However, definitely a cartridge that lets you know that it is a MC. Not terribly zippy or harsh in the highs like many early(ish) MC’s, but definitely not the smoothest highs and upper mids like those of later generation MC’s, including Monster’s own. Newer MC’s get closer to blurring the lines the between MC’s and MM’s. I got good results with tube preamps, but was problematic with the SS preamps that I used at the time (Remember that this was 30+ yrs ago). It has good detail and speed with excellent imaging, but is a little lean according to my tastes and what I consider realistic. The later Monster Genesis 2000 which I still own is a much superior cartridge, IMO.
Bottom line for me is that if you like that type of presentation I can’t imagine being able to get a new cartridge that is better for what you could sell the Alpha 2 for, given its age.
Good luck.
First of all, heed the fact that it’s output is .3 mv. If your preamp and overall gain structure of your system is comfortable with this output level, read on.
Good cartridge. However, definitely a cartridge that lets you know that it is a MC. Not terribly zippy or harsh in the highs like many early(ish) MC’s, but definitely not the smoothest highs and upper mids like those of later generation MC’s, including Monster’s own. Newer MC’s get closer to blurring the lines the between MC’s and MM’s. I got good results with tube preamps, but was problematic with the SS preamps that I used at the time (Remember that this was 30+ yrs ago). It has good detail and speed with excellent imaging, but is a little lean according to my tastes and what I consider realistic. The later Monster Genesis 2000 which I still own is a much superior cartridge, IMO.
Bottom line for me is that if you like that type of presentation I can’t imagine being able to get a new cartridge that is better for what you could sell the Alpha 2 for, given its age.
Good luck.