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Advice needed on MC cartridges

I’ve an Ortofon Black 2M cartridge on my VPI Classic 2 turntable, It’s a moving magnet type cartridge with a Shibata stylus and cost about $700 when purchased. I could easily be wrong, but am under the impression that the Ortofon 2M Black is about as good as it gets with MM cartridges and if I wished to upgrade I’d need to be thinking about moving into a MC, moving coil, type.

So I’ve been trying to learn something about moving coil cartridges and what differences or improvements in sound quality might be obtained by using one. My integrated amp, a Luxman 507uX Mk2, has a built in phono stage and can play either type,

Generally speaking, how much more would need to be spent on a MC cartridge before a noticeable, or significant improvement, might be heard in sound quality over the Ortofon 2M’s performance? What improvements in performance might you obtain using one a better quality MC over the Ortofon 2M Black? And third, what MC cartridges might you recommend that would fit in performance and budget wise with a system composed of the above equipment plus Magico A3 speakers. My other equipment is a Marantz Ruby CD/SACD player and a Shunyata Denali Hydra power conditioner.

I’ve never heard a MC cartridge in use so would be interested in following your advice and recommendations to see if I can find a dealer or someone that might be able to demo one so I can hear what the differences might be in performance. Thank you for any responses or suggestions

Mike

skyscraper
skyscraper OP
830 posts
 

Mr._m, I will do just that and have already started.

Tomic601, The Lyra Kleos has the same 91 ohm optimal loading. If your Delos can run at 100 ohms loading perhaps I’ve identified one potential candidate for purchase in the Kleos. Music Direct carries both.. The Kleos fits my budget at Music Directs price of $3695. Thanks.

Anyone know of a reason or spec that might lead you to believe the Kleos might not work witn my Luxman 507uX integrated amp or VPI Classic 2 turntable?. Below are the specs for the Lyra Kleos listed on the Music Direct site.

Lyra Kleos Specifications

Type: Moving Coil, coil and flux field centered design
Output voltage: 0.5mV
Frequency response: 10Hz - 50kHz
Channel separation: >35dB
Diamond stylus: 3x75µm Lyra designed Ogura long footprint Line Contact
Overhang Alignment: 0.12mm Locator Hole Precisely Aligned over Stylus Tip
Magnet(s): Dual disk neodymium
Coil Former: 5N iron core & 6N copper coils
Cantilever: 0.3mm Diameter Ogura Solid Boron Rod
Tracking force: 1.7 - 1.8 grams (1.75 Optimum)
Dynamic compliance: 12 x 10-6 cm/dyn
Internal impedance: 5.4 ohms
Inductance: 9.0 uH
Recommended Impedance: 91 - 47kOhms
Weight: 8.8g

 

 

mr_m
1,900 posts
 

Jim.

Great call on the Lyra Delos! I had no idea you could load the Delos with 100 ohms. Definitely a top choice. Can't wait to hear that cartridge again!

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,945 posts
 

been giving you hints….a Delos and the pivot kit upgrade for your arm will run circles around a Kleos in your unipivot…. i run a Delos in a $7 k Triplaner…. save the Kleos $, fall back ( which will really be forward ) to a Benz or Delos or Dynavector at $2 k…..

just my $.02

skyscraper OP
830 posts
 

Does it look from the specs above the Lyra Kleos has the same theoretical optimal load of 91 ohms? I don’t know how to read the specs with any degree of certainty. It would be nice it would work like Jim’s Lyra Delos does.

 

Mike

johnnymics
1 posts
 

I have the Hana ML and I love it. I think the retail on it was $1200, but I was able to get a break at my local hi-fi shop. I absolutely love it. It’s on a Debut Pro and powered with the Parasound JC3 Halo jr. I think it sounds amazing. I would feel confident with any Hana cartridge based on my experience. 

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