I too love my AT VM540 ML. It’s all about the stylus. No other micro lines are available at that price point. It IS more musical than a recently acquired Vessel A3SV. There really is no other choice except to punch up to the 740, not necessary for a second spinner.
Need help with MM cartridge choice
I've stumbled across a good deal on a Rega Planar 3 fitted with a Grace G-747 that looks to be an excellent choice for my second / MM table. It has an old ADC on it that almost certainly needs a new stylus and I was never very fond of the ADC sound to begin with. I've had good luck with B&O, Ortofon, Grace, Empire and Shure, but everything except Ortofon is ancient history now.
This table would be used for vinyl that can't really benefit from being spun on the Sota. Think fair-to-good condition second-hand albums cleaned ultrasonically with minor visible scuffs that have seen a lot of play. I prefer a neutral tone balance with flat frequency response. Specs in the tonearm manual are pretty thin; 4 to 10 gram standard cartridge weight and nothing more.
Presuming the table & arm meet the mechanical, operating and geometry inspections when I go back tomorrow, I'd like some suggestions on an appropriate modern-era cartridge match. I'd like to keep the investment ~$300 and definitely want something for which replacement styli are still made. For those of you who haven't seen my posts before or checked my system page, I run a McIntosh C50 with a MC302 amp into Rogers Studio 1 speakers. My primary table is a Sota Sapphire with a Graham Phantom Supreme and a DV XX2 MkII.
Thanks for your consideration and I look forward to your replies!
This table would be used for vinyl that can't really benefit from being spun on the Sota. Think fair-to-good condition second-hand albums cleaned ultrasonically with minor visible scuffs that have seen a lot of play. I prefer a neutral tone balance with flat frequency response. Specs in the tonearm manual are pretty thin; 4 to 10 gram standard cartridge weight and nothing more.
Presuming the table & arm meet the mechanical, operating and geometry inspections when I go back tomorrow, I'd like some suggestions on an appropriate modern-era cartridge match. I'd like to keep the investment ~$300 and definitely want something for which replacement styli are still made. For those of you who haven't seen my posts before or checked my system page, I run a McIntosh C50 with a MC302 amp into Rogers Studio 1 speakers. My primary table is a Sota Sapphire with a Graham Phantom Supreme and a DV XX2 MkII.
Thanks for your consideration and I look forward to your replies!
- ...
- 24 posts total
I vote for a replaceable advanced stylus profile and the work to properly clean old LP's. My batch of 10 manual cleaning makes a BIG difference. I also think the AT540ML is a great choice, you may even prefer it for specific LP's in your favorite pile as well as the worn ones. I use a MM for LP's that are 'not too special' sonically, ones I like and keep, (even fresh copies) or perhaps a farewell listen then sell. My old Shure V15VxMR body with new Jico SAS stylus has a brush for slight warps and dust pickup, an advantage for the rare warped keeper. Primarily to reduce unnecessary wear on my more costly and non-replaceable MC stylus. I found, the MM has to sound good enough that you like it's sound a lot, or you won't use it, thus you keep wearing the MC stylus. IOW, if tempted go up not down. |
Don't rule out the entry level Soundmith moving iron carts I've had good results with the ottelo on a second table. compliance check to be sure first. I believe you'll get better sound with a fix cantilever than a replaceable one. When you can get the cart rebuilt for 20% (soundsmith's case) of the new cost its worth considering for the improvement in sound over a replicable cantilever cart. Otello | Soundsmith (sound-smith.com) only $100 to rebuild, 2 year warranty too. I use it instead of a Denon 103 MC, I find the Ottelo MI better in most respects. Specially detail retrieval, excellent for a conical. |
- 24 posts total