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Pls Recommend Grado Green vs. Red P-Mount for Me?

I have a Technics SLBD-5 (belt-drive) turntable and only use it to play records that will probably never be available on CD, which means a few hours of play per year, is there any reason for me to purchase a $110 Grado Red P-mount instead of just a $60 Grado Green P-Mount?

After a recent incident (my only other recent Audiogon thread, if you're interested) that took 8 months to solve (the cause was a defective Audio-Technica cartridge from a mail order dealer) I am reluctant to purhcase another cartridge online. That leaves me with only one local source of a P-mount cartridge - Grade. (Who else makes quality P-mounts anyway? Ortofon, Audio-Technica and Grado as far as I can see.)

Thanks for your advice.
toxrtp
piedpiper
753 posts
 
Tox,

sounds like you're simply missing a headshell. The Red is a little more transparent and with a smoother top end; worth it IMO, except that you're putting it on a pretty humble table that will not help the cartridge do its job very much.
toxrtp OP
6 posts
 
So, to repeat the question once more, it is worth it, then, to pay extra for a Red P cartridge, vs. a Green P in such a humble TT?
piedpiper
753 posts
 
I'd say you'd hear the difference and it would be worth it. The money it would take to go to the Gold would be better spent on a better table though.
toxrtp OP
6 posts
 
Thanks. That's still only $110 for the red, vs. $400 for an entry level Rega TT. Unless I decide to start investing in vinyl again (mine is old and in horrible shape), I think the new cartridge is the better value, given my listening habits.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,470 posts
 
I would get the best cartridge I could afford. You will always hear a difference - even if your turntable was a Webcor. You have to make the decission if audio quality means anything.
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