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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
829 posts
 

Johnnymics- glad you like your Hana ML. Seems like they manufacture some exemplary cartridges.

Jim, Thanks for the feedback the Lyra Kleos will work with with my integrated amps moving coil input. That’s good news. I’m working on a new list of MC and MI cartridges that fit my budget and will work with with my Luxman 507uX’s built in phono stage. The Kleos has moved to the head of the class now. I’ve an email in to Soundsmith and will contact Uptown Audio see if either sell any other cartriges that will fit the bill.

Big_greg, thanks for sharing your friend has your old VPI Classic 2 with both the dual pivot mod and a Lyra Kleo cartrige. I was reading up on the Kleos on the Lyra site. yesterday. They seemed to be recommending a steadier tonearm than the unipivot might be without the mod. So I’ll take your experience as a confirmation VPI’s dual pivot mod might be just the route to go. That’s more good news.

Again, anybody with MC or MI cartridge recommendations that fit my budget of $3000-$4000 and meet the specs of my Luxman 507ux MKII phono stage listed above, I’d very much welcome your suggestions. Thanks each and everyone of you for your input thus far.

Mike

josephjrose's avatar
josephjrose
2 posts
 

May I offer that the Ortofon 2M Black is not "about as good as it." The Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 is a pretty significant step up.

skyscraper OP
829 posts
 

Joseph, I don't doubt it. 

Mike

ericsch
752 posts
 

FWIW, I think you should consider

reducing your cartridge budget

and get a pre-owned phono

preamp. There are lots of good

options available and you will

gain so much more flexibility.

skyscraper OP
829 posts
 

Anybody have a thought on Soundsmith’s "The Voice" High Output Moving Iron cartridge. I was informed today that "The Voice" would work with my Luxman’s integrated amp’ using it’s MM phono stage setting. It’s at the low end of my price range at $3000 and is well reviewed. I’m wondering how it might compare with the Lyros Kleos, or another possible choice, the Koetsu Rosewood at $3995, the high end of my price range..

I’m not absolutely sure that the Koetsu’s specs match up to work with the MC settings on the Luxman, but was told they would. If anyone could confirm they would or would not, that would be helpful. Thanks,

Ericsch- It would be nice to have more options and flexibilty than the Luxman MM/MC settings provide. But I’d prefer not spend the amount it would take to get a good quality separate phonostage. I only buy new and that would likely take a $1000 plus out of my budget, not too mention whatever the extra wires to it might run. I’m much too cheap for that.

Thank you for your suggestion though. It’s a sensible option. I’ve already two or three good cartridge choices within the limitations of the Luxman’s built in phono stage, so it should work out.

Mike

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