Advice needed on MC cartridges

@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.

Andrei_NZ- Thank you for your recommendatons. I just finished looking them up.

Sokogear- Thank you for the recommendation on the Vanden Hull MC One Special. Ijust finished reading up on that model too plus the pricier Frog model recomended earlier. I like that Van den Hul will re-tip their MC cartridges if need be for $500 (that price was quoted in one review). which apparently isn’t the norm for MC cartridges from what I’m gathering. VPI does carry the Van den Hul line which is a good thing in that they must feel they complement their turntables.

Safebelayer- Thank you for the link and the recommmendation on the ART9. I was reading up on that one too last night.

Raul, I’m going to take the plunge on a cartridge in the $3,500 dollar range. I’ve been reading up on the Van den Hul Frog (about $3500) ghdprentice suggested, and others in the Van den Hul line. Also I’ve read a little on the Lyra Kleos and the Hana Umani Red. Do you, or anyone, have any other suggestions or preferences for other cartridges to research in that price range?. Any input would be appreciated.

Also, I’m still wondering why you don’t like unipivot tonearms for these more expensive cartridges. I called VPI yesterday, who sell the Van den Hul line. They said they hadn’t ever heard of any issue along those lines. I tried posting that same issue on the VPI Forums site, but apparently that site has been down for months with technical issues.

Mike

When I bought my Frog he said you could get twice the play time out of them. I know I got at least 2,000 hours without retipping… when I traded it in still sounding great.

I tried a 2M Black in my system some years ago, and it was nice but not for me. I’ve honestly liked every single MC cartridge I’ve used (some 20 now) more than it. Certainly no need to spend several K.

A new Benz Zebrawood L from the classifieds here (it ships from HK) at 1500 is a pretty great bang for buck to get that really good "lo MC" sound for not too much money. At 0.4mV output and 12 ohms ohms it’s fairly easy to match with either an active MC stage or a SUT. Its mass and compliance will work well with your VPI arm (the "dual pivot" to improve stability seems like a very good addition for their unipivots btw - I’ve personally heard good results with that and my Koetsu RSP). Hard to go wrong with that Zebrawood, and you’re not in too deep if you want to pivot elsewhere for any reason. Really pretty cartridge too!!