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Ortofon Super OM10 or Sumiko Pearl cartridge?

I turned on my system today and found out my Ortofon Super OM 10 cartridge had given out and bit the dust. I checked everything thoroughly and confirmed this with a multimeter and a continuity check.

Anyway, I am considering replacing the cartridge with a Sumiko pearl just to try something different. My setup is as follows: Cayin 50 T integrated amp, Bellari VP 1 phono preamp, and a MusicHall MM5 turntable. I play mostly rock, and I am wondering about the Sumiko or should I just replace it with another Super OM10?

Any suggestions or comments? I am looking for a cartridge in the less than $100 dollar range complete with stylus.
marntz4me
patrick_odonnell
35 posts
 
I upgraded to the Grado Black/Green from the Ortofon Super OM10 and have been really happy with it - then again, I'm a complete sucker for the things the Grado does well. I like Sumiko's cartridges but the Oyster just didn't do "it" for me, whatever "it" is.

I've also been curious about the Ortofon 2M series, in fact I made a thread about them that hasn't gotten any replies yet.
patrick_odonnell
35 posts
 
...although given how glowing that Sumiko Pearl review is, I might have to give it another shot - especially since now that I think about it, I might be thinking of the Oyster.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 

03-15-08: Patrick_odonnell
...although given how glowing that Sumiko Pearl review is, I might have to give it another shot - especially since now that I think about it, I might be thinking of the Oyster.
If you read the whole Pearl thread, you'll see a comment that places the Oyster and Pearl in entirely different categories.

But if you read the DL-110 and DL-160 reviews, you'll see that these Denon HOMCs absolutely run away from the $100 pack. To me they're easily worth the higher cost, even to the point of going without records for another 2-4 wks to save up the additional money.
patrick_odonnell
35 posts
 
What about the DL-160 vs. the AT440MLa?
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
03-15-08: Patrick_odonnell
What about the DL-160 vs. the AT440MLa?
I personally have no direct comparison experience, but Ed Kobesky, who wrote the A'gone review of the Denon DL-160, had this to say:
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve liked other cartridges, too. The Audio-Technica 440ML is the greatest $99 cartridge in analog today, with a natural sound, sophisticated dual-moving magnet design and a competition-crushing MicroLine stylus. The Benz Micro MC20E2 is another bargain at $175, with effortless musicality but without the Denon’s fine stylus. And the Grado Green, at just $60, has probably opened more minds to quality analog than any other cartridge. But of all the cartridges I’ve tried, the Denon is the one that packs the most musical punch for the buck.
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