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Need some help picking my first MC Cartridge

I have recently purchased an Icon PS1 Mk II tube Phono Preamp. and was thinking of purchasing a seperate MC cartridge and head to interchange with my Nagoaka MP 300 MM cartridge, which I am very happy with. This is my first MC Cartridge so this is more of a chance to compare MC versus MM Cartridges. Some suggestions have been Denon 103 or the Hana Red, The Icon Preamp has a fixed MC load setting of 100 ohms. The Sansui SR 525 Direct Drive Turntable that I will be using has an interchangeable cartridge head, so VTA height, tracking weight, anti-skating adjustments may be required for each cartridge but should not take more than 20 minutes to adjust. I have read that some low output cartridges may be preferable to high output, but I am not sure how this matches up with the Icon Preamp. I am a little in the weeds here with the technical information when it comes to cartridges so be gentle.

My listening preference is more to the musical / warm vinyl side. Gear: Tube preamp, Class "A" amp , alternating with a tube Integrated, Wilson Benesch Square 2 Speakers, Rel Subs (x2). I split my listening about 50/50 Vinyl/Digital.

My Budget is up to $1500.00

pooch2
kahlenz's avatar
kahlenz
285 posts
 

The Hana ML is a good choice.  I have an SL but I am running it into 1kohm (100 is too low).  The ML should be fine.
My concern is the tonearm on the Sansui.  It would be a bit course for the very low ohm LOMC carts; you'll just have to see how well it works with the ML.
Don't give up on MM carts! At your price level (and considering the limitations of your table) there are some remarkable options (Grado, SoundSmith, AT, Ortofon to name a few). I have a MoFi Master Tracker which kills (kind of fits the high-end AT profile)!  Lately, I have been seduced by Grado and especially SoundSmith.  Your phono pre will probably have more synergy with MMs as well.  There's a certain warmth and smoothness in MM carts that gets into the tube gestalt.

andyz
39 posts
 

Don’t mean to confuse this anymore than it is, but for $1500 I would suggest the Audio Note IQ3 MM cart. Can’t be beat for the money IMO.I believe you would need to spend a lot more in MC territory to get to the level you can with this MM cart.

polkalover
126 posts
 

Not to be a contrarian- check out a soundsmith fixed coil cart.  The zephyr is in your price range.  I swear by my paua- it’s the best cart I’ve owned.

bobsdevices
104 posts
 

Hana cartridges are now 20% off through the end of December.

rauliruegas
13,123 posts
 

Dear @pooch2  : Well, Nagaoka MP500 is even better than the Hana and if you really want to try an MC you must have to go for the Lyra Delos.

 

Btw, the Nagaoka is not a MI as lewm said it's a moving permalloy patented design.

 

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

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