2. analog
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matching your cartridge to your turntable

Hi folks,

I have a very modest stereo system consisting of Adcom pre and power amps and some Polk Monitor ten speakers.

I recently purchased a McIntosh MX110 and like it so far.

My source equipment is a 1229 Dual turntable and a Nackamichi CD player.

I used to like the way it sounded until my old cartridge wore out.It was a Sure V15.

I replaced it with a V12 I bought on ebay,and I never liked the way it sounded.

I then started having problems with the turntable and took it in last week to have it repaired and have the cartridge replaced.

I had read up on some cartridges in the 200-500 range and narrowed it down to either the Ortofon 2m Bronze or the Grado Prestiege gold.

The person called me from the place I took the turntable to and was telling me that he wouldn't recommend putting a cartridge over 100.00$ on my turntable due to the my turntable having a aluminum platter and light weight tone arm.He said any quality cartridge would only amplify the inherent noise present.

Does this make sense.I never noticed and excessive noise with this turntable before,but I can kind of see his point.

I guess I'am looking for a recommendation for a cartridge for the system.

Any thoughts.

I just bought a streamer also,and  plan on upgrading my power amp and speakers next.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

 

twangy57
twangy57 OP
221 posts
 

puptent's avatar

puptent

228 posts

I will have to see if I still have the V15,it has a V12 in there now,which to me didn't sound that good when I got it.Maybe it was used,can't remember.

They are servicing it for me,but it was speeding up on start which I have fixed by cleaning the sleeve on the motor shaft before.

The problem is I can't see very good anymore since catarac surgery.

we'll see.

Thanks.

 

dogberry
824 posts
 

Depending on the lenses you had inserted, you are most likely optimised for distance vision. Some drugstore reading glasses might make fitting cartridges much easier.

twangy57 OP
221 posts
 
dogberry

757 posts

I have reading glasses.

I have developed quite a few floaters in both eyes.

I don’t mind the ones that look like little black specs,it’s the big greasy ones that cover a good portion of your vision when focusing in on a small object.

The only option they offer is a vitrectomy,which is sucking the vitreous fluid out of one side of your eye while pushing a clear fluid in the other side.

No thanks,I’ll just deal with the floaters.

twangy57 OP
221 posts
 

Well I went browsing for a replacement TT and ended up buying a Rega P6.

It should be a improvement over a 50 year old Dual,yes?

kennyc
2,038 posts
 

The cartridge, tonearm, turntable work together to get the micro vibrations from the vinyl groove.  Tonearms+cartridge act together, so better tonearms perform better sonically.  The turntable platter material and thickness also matters, along with controlling/minimizing motor noise.

So I agree that the OPs older table would greatly hamper sonics of better cartridges.  Get an inexpensive cartridge or get a better cartridge along with a turntable upgrade.  Some turntables are offered as a turntable+cartridge combo to save money like Rega and MoFi.  

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