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MC cartridge for Clearaudio Concept 1600$

Hello friends! This topic appears once in a few years, the last one similar (but lower budget) was three years ago so it's time! smiley

I have Sumiko Amethyst MM Cartridge on my Clearaudio Concept (basic) turnable and I want to try MC now and to bring the level & cost of cartridge into line with my stereo system. My budget is up to 1600$. So everybody oddly enough says the best option is Concept MC. Of course. But I would like to explore some other options because there are several interesting models in this price range with very similar tech. specs and that will also suite fine my tonearm with effective mass 9g. Here's the list:

- Concept MC Signature

- Dynavector DV-XX2 MKII

- Hana ML

- Goldring Ethos MC 

- Goldring Ethos SE MC

I wonder if anyone has expierence with any of these cartridges to tell something about it's character, sound signature, musicality, accuracy. Will be great if in compareson with Concept MC.

I listen (sometimes with my wife) to music from Billie Ilish to Pantera, from Portishead to Darkthrone, from Cypress Hill to Cannibal Corpse, even from Gabber to Sludge. Sometimes sad and romantic, sometimes evil. But very emotional like me. My phonostage is Hegel V10. Thanks for help

128x128iad
iad's avatar
iad OP
51 posts
 

I read the review by Larry Cox on PF on Dynavector XX2 MKII and I was captivated by this description:

The cartridge’s drive and pace are traits other cartridges might covet; though its way with dynamics is its chief accomplishment and possible source of envy. The POP of Mick Fleetwood’s kick drum on "Monday Morning" on Fleetwood Mac’s self-titled 1975 release was stunning, and the good luck of choosing that as a first song made me pleased that I was writing about this cartridge. Talk about the first step being important, that was an awesome first song to try out, even though my pressing was immediately laid bare as veiled. Still, even behind the gauze of a poor recording, the pop of Mick’s kick drum foreshadowed the XX2MkII to be a striking performer.

Excellent recordings shone as I’d hoped they would. The recording quality of the title song on Bruce Katz’ Crescent Crawl on 180 gram AudioQuest vinyl is uniformly excellent. The left hand of the piano has weight and speed that make the recording positively raucous and rocking;

iad's avatar
iad OP
51 posts
 

From one user:

has effortless dynamics and a very pleasant tonal balance that is both musical and exciting to listen to. Somehow this cartridge seems to flush out even more emotional content from music buried in the grooves

Words like drive, pace, rocking, emotional in these reviews make me feel that's what I need. And still thinking about Hana and AT. And maybe I should add Linn Koil or Krystal to my list?

jmkrajnik
34 posts
 

These are classic and very good sounding for the price.

https://www.denon.com/en-us/category/turntable-cartridges/

I use on on my Clearaudio Turntable,  It is way better than the MM cartridge that came with the table.

Cartridges are probably Denon's best product.

iad's avatar
iad OP
51 posts
 

@jmkrajnik I'll check it out, thanks. Heared that Denon's not expensive models sound good for heavy music, but don't know what's the sound of this price range.

jmkrajnik
34 posts
 

It sounds quite a bit better than the standard cartridge.  Fuller, more detailed, and more natural.  Not as good as my other two tables with high end cartridges on them.

You'll need to choose your stepup transformer to match.  Im using an older Musical Fidelity on this setup.  It works really well.

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