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Still looking for a new Moving Coil Cartridge

I noticed that Music Direct has 20% off cartridge sale on select cartridges. I am still using a ZU/Denon DL103 MC cartridge Series 1 with the cartridges tightest tolerances. I purchased it here from “Audiofiel” back in 2010 and have used it sparingly since. I had been using a Dynavector DV20XL cartridge which I bought a couple of years ago but my 6 yo nephew destroyed it (that’s another story) so I am back to the ZU/Denon.

My table is a Technics SL1200G which I truly love. I have been looking at the Hana Low out put MC cartridges. I am interested in the low output “S” series as the $600.00 price is right where I want to be. Now, the million dollar questions: I listen to 95% 60’s, 70’s and 80’s Rock and want whatever cartridge I purchase to make the records sound good without excessive surface noise. Will the Hana S be up to the task? My Mac C2500 tube preamp has cartridge loading from 50 ohms up to 1000 ohms so I should be ok. I just want to be sure this cartridge will be very musical and full bodied sound. I do no want a thin sound. So there you have it, yay or neigh?

128x128stereo5
roadcykler
85 posts
 

estimated longevity of various stylus shapes:

  • Spherical / Conical - 150hrs
  • Elliptical - 250hrs
  • Shibata/Line contact - 400hrs
  • SAS/MicroRidge - 500hrs

The rest of the story you missed or forgot, 

 

This is not to say that at 500 hrs a SAS stylus is "worn out" - but at that stage the wear has reached the point where distortion at 15kHz surpasses the level specified by Jico for a new stylus. (Which I believe is 3%).

Some manufacturers have traditionally defined a stylus as being "worn out" when it starts to damage the record... in these terms the figures provided by Jico can at least be doubled, and in some cases quadrupled.

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,499 posts
 

The OP wants a reduction in surface noise.

+1 Nagaoka MP500.

Ortofon black mm with that technics. You will be blown away. 

stereo5's avatar
stereo5 OP
6,266 posts
 

The Zu/Denon cartridge was retipped by Andy at the needle Clinic in Washington state I believe back in 2018. I have less than 100 hours on the retip as I was using the newer Dynavector until it got ruined by a curious little boy.

markmoskow
29 posts
 

My feeling is that the best bang for the buck is a Denon 303, even if you pay to retip (301, 302, 304 likewise, or new 301 mkii). Bang for the buck, that is. I have two Grado Ref Sonata 1's, one with a micro re-tip...both sound very good, second best bang for the buck. I spent 3 months with a Nagaoka MP500, trying all sorts of things, and never liked it as much as either Grado--stock or retip. Could be my system (Denon 47F and Denon 60L).  I thought my Stanton 881s, even with replaced stylus, sounded better. The other MM I also like better is a Grace F9e if you can find one reasonable, with soundsmith stylus....although slightly finicky for setup (much affected by proper VTA I thought). I was very surprised how good this sounded. The other bang for buck, mc-wise, other than Denon, may be a new Hana SL, on sale. I also use a Benz micro ruby HO (wood) in a different system and it is best of all, but pricey and but needs higher mass tonearm. I wouldn't worry about wood one way or another.

 

mahler123
3,063 posts
 

Remember MC cartridges are much less nephew proof than mms

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