Any cartridges like Shure, but more exciting?

Audio Technica AT440mla. Do a Google search and I doubt you'll see a cart with more fans and virtually no negative reviews.

I tracks better than the Shures (using the HiFi News Test LP for objective results), much lower surface noise, great inner-groove tracking, and has the excitement you are looking for.

Alberto

PS I own several Shures V15s and M97s, the 440mla beats them all (as well as some of my $400+ carts).

interesting, i had thought about the 440mla... but read a lot of folks describing it as on the brighter side of tonal balance? my general experience with audio technicas is that they are on the bright side of the spectrum (as opposed to grados which are on the dark side). i kind of prefer dark to bright all things being equal.

is this not the case with the 440?

I prefer dark meat. Guinea hen meat, that is.

The AT's have this fast, detailed HF extension--very true. However, the 440 is like the Shure M97's, mid fi. The real nice AT's are the upper end classic models: AT-15S, 20S, 20Sa.

The Shure are MM's, Stanton are moving iron like the Grados. I have high output MC, MM and MI cartridges. They all shine in different areas and like everything else, have their inherent weaknesses. I won't touch low output models with a long stick, though. It's too much of a hassle and expensive to get right given the ultra low voltages involved.

My favorite cartridge is my KAB modded Stanton DJ cartridge. Who would even thought it could be sooo goood?

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>interesting, i had thought about the 440mla...
>but read a lot of folks describing it as on the
>brighter side of tonal balance?

I hate bright (vinyl, tubes, soft-dome tweeters are my favs).
The AT440ml *IS* bright. The 440mlA is just RIGHT.

Alberto

Im currently using a V15 IV with the MR stylus. I also have a HE stylus, but seem to prefer the MR..Whats with this SAS stylus and whats the difference..where can it be found?..Thanks guys....Ken