Advice needed on MC cartridges

@skyscraper its been mentioned in this thread already a couple of times, but I'd like to throw my recommendation behind the stylus upgrade for the 2M Black - the LVB 250 (boron cantilever with the same Shibata stylus).

Don't overlook this option or think that it will be only a minor upgrade - it's profound. Everything gets better. Soundstage, focus, detail and other objective parameters like greater quietness in the groove and increased composure. But there is also something far more important - timbral quality, natural balance and realism make great strides forward (and the stock 2M Black was pretty good).

Along with this is an innate ability to present the musical picture without highlighting/spotlighting. For instance you feel like you can move your focus anywhere so easily  - listen to the bass player in the background while a soloist is going gangbusters in the foreground. I'm hearing new things in old favourites, everything sounds so musical and communicative.  

The LVB 250 is for sure a great cartridge for not crazy money. The medium compliance and high output means it won't put stress on tonearms and phono stages like a low compliance/output MC and you'll be more likely to extract its best (from less than the best turntable/arm/phono). I'm using mine on a Technics 1200GR with a Parasound JC3jr phono and it sounds superb. 

@skyscraper - for $1850 (you should be able to get a 15% discount) the MC One Special from VDH should provide a big improvement for you, and because it sounds like you are a value (not cost no object) conscious audiophile like me, the fact that VDH stylus lasts 25-50% longer, makes it a no brainer. I always invest incrementally, so you should plan on a phono stage when you want to take your next step after getting a MC cartridge. It will make a BIG difference if you get a good one. Expect it to cost in the neighborhood of the cartridge at a minimum. It is very important.

VDH will do whatever service is needed for a reasonable price and sometimes VDH will do a total replacement at an attractive price which they did for me because of the pandemic. For some reason, they dont get the publicity in the US I think they deserve. 

Dear @skyscraper  : Why so many posts about Hana cartridge?

Like almost everything the audiophile world moves inside what in stastistics is knowed as a Normal Distribution Curve ( a " bell " curve ". ). According that around the 80% of audiophiles live somewhere near the center of that " beell " live in the average/mediocrity space. So you will always find out thousands of advises around that average audiophile world that through our audio life we were there or still we are and nothing wrong with that: is a reality.

Now, unfortunatelly in analog is not easy to go out of that mediocrity/average world. We need money important money to do it but money is not enough we need high whole analog knowledge levls and certainly a very good know-how/experiences with live MUSIC events.

The audio world function inside that " bell " distribution.

You already arrive to that conlusion with the Hana cartridges and other " average " advises here that only permit that you " swimm " more time in that average/mediocre world till you decide you are already prepared to go out.

R.

@skyscraper

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/audio-technica-at-art9-phono-cartridge

+10 for Audio Technica ART9 (art9xi appears to be replacement, though lpgear.com days art9 is the flagship above the xi).

Read the comments in the audiogon thread attached above. The only two things necessary to know with this cartridge is proper setup (similar to all micro-line stylus) and break-in. The latter takes anywhere between 50-150 depending on who you ask. In the interim it’s still really really good but it does come into its own after that time period.

I have never read so much about a cartridge without a negative review. Again, the cartridge needs proper setup and break-in.

I found phono stage compatibility to be critical regardless of cartridge. Without playing the cartridge of your choice with your Luxman you’ll never know how your upgrade cartridge is going to sound. Each phono stage greatly affects the sound.

I also want to comment on what @mijostyn said about what one will need to spend on a mc to improve on a mm/mi cartridge. First, it's about what your ear hears. Second, it's what your ear hears in your system. @mijostyn has neither your ear nor your system. I'm sure with his ear and his system that his experience is true. His comment about the high and low level phono stages mirrors my thoughts above. Your phono stage may accomplish both levels well or not. Finally, many people will tell you that a $700 dynavector 10x5 will blow doors off of any comparably priced mm. It's a high output mc that does sound amazing. Similarly, I doubt anyone has heard a mm that sounds anything like a koetsu rosewood...smooth as silk. It all comes down to opinions and when it comes to aural opinions, you can only hang your hat on yours.

Goodluck in your search. If you can, find other people with your Luxman who listen to vinyl...even, better with a VPI. I’m sure they’re out there.

Dear @safebelayer : Any cartridge advise needs that the OP change his today tonearm for the cartridge can shows at its best and that change could means to spend between 3K-5K in a decent tonearm and when he has it could be better to go for the Umami Red or the Kleos or Colibri. The ART can't take out per sé the OP of that average big sea.

Yes, only an opinion.

R.