MM Cartridge to MC Cartridge

An easy recommendation is the Hana SL mc ($750). This has the Shibata stylus for superior detail retrieval. It is my choice for an mc cartridge under $1K. After that the skies the limit!

When I moved from MM I opted for the Denon DL103 - even though it has a sperical stylus it was noticebly better and very affordable

Then after reading about the ZU version (and similar approaches) I applied my DIY mind to the problem and epoxied a brass plate to the cardridge, which again improved things, because

1. it added some mss, which suited my Rega arm better
2. it tightened up the sound - much crisper with a tighter bass

The final upgrade was to replace the stylus with a Soundsmith mod to ruby cantilever with an optimized Countor contact line stylus, which improved the details amazingly

Now I am not suggesting you go thruogh the same steps, but the things that make a difference are

1. stylus profile and cantilever material
2. Matching the tonearm

BTW - I had a Rega cartridge and by comparison it was muddy and lifeless

@jasonbourne71 recommendation is pretty good by all accounts, but also look at the Denon range (not necessarily the 103).

Audio Tecnichnica also have some MM carts that may improve things also

Hope that helps - Steve

Absolutely not! Reviews are always positive. You are for better off going for a good MM cartridge than a cheap MC. Get an Ortofon 2M Black LVB version. It will be a noticeable improvement but don't expect to be bowled over. To do better with an MC cartridge you would have to spend $3000 plus.

@williewonka : you are right about matching the cartridge compliance with the arm mass. Low compliance needs a heavier arm. High compliance needs a lighter arm. This relates to the resonance frequency of the arm/cartridge combination - ideally below 10 hz..

@mijostyn : I disagree that one must spend thousands for a good sounding mc cartridge! The venerable DL103 wouldn't have held its esteemed status among audiophiles if it didn't sound good! Of course the higher-priced Denon MC's offer a more refined sound!