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Cartridge Recomendations for VPI HK-19 MK IV w/Gra

Hi all. I have a VPI HK-19 MK IV w/Graham 1.5t on the way and am looking for opinions or recommendations on good cartridge match ups with the Graham 1.5t (11 grams mass) and TT. Budget under $1000 please and HOMC or MM, as I am still relatively new to this and do not want to mix in step up devices or separate phono amps to my learning curve at this point. I will run the TT through a McIntosh mm phono stage.

My current system consists of McIntosh 6900, Jolida JD100 cd player, SF Cremona Speakers. I don't play music every day, but when I do, I like a nice sounding system that will not give me ear fatigue. I listen to mainly female vocals and instrumentals.

Some cartridges I am wondering about are Grado Reference Sonata, Benz Micro Glider SH, ClearAudio Virtuoso Wood. The Grado appeals because of its reputation for warm, lush midrange, but I wonder if this is too light for the Graham arm?, and am also concerned reading other posts that claim the Grado highlights record noise and may "hum" with some TT's.

I appreciate any input you may have.
trtrtr49
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
The Grado Reference Sonata is a nice cartridge, particularly well suited for those who love acoustic instruments and voice. The "hum" issue one reads about will not be an issue with a VPI turntable due to the location of the motor. If your phono stage can work with the lower output versions of the Sonata (.5mv or 1.5mv), go with those.
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stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,435 posts
 
There are lots of cartridges that have better soundstage, depth, air, clarity, etc., etc. than the Grado Sonato low output. They have a kind of brown coloring to them, and I think with little effort one can do much better. (Dyna or Benz)
markd51
763 posts
 
Hello All/Rushton,
Makes sense what you say that any Grado "shouldn't hum, but doing a search the other day about "VPI Hum" on the asylum, I pulled up quite a few numerous posts about Grados humming with HW-19 Tables. Odd, I know.

I'm sort of doubting that any MC with an output of .5mv-1.5mv will be suitable with the Mac MM Phono Input.

I know your Table, with Arm should be worthy of a very fine MC, in the $1K-$3K range, but as you say, you wish to not delve into SUT's. or stand alone Phono Stages.

I'm going to go out on a limb here, and say that maybe for now, just buy yourself a nice MM Cartridge that won't break the bank, like the Audio Technica AT-150MLX. Typically, this $500 list Cartridge sells for $249 at places like LP Gear, and JR Music.

Your Arm-Table should be able to bring out the very best this Cartridge has to offer.

Better to perhaps have this Cartridge on board, than say a mega-dollar MC, that won't give sufficient output through your MM Stage. Mark
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Hi Markd51, I used Grado cartridges of various vintages (XTC, XYZ, Sonata, Reference) on a VPI HK-19 for over 20 years with no hum problems, but I always used the 1.5mv versions that were available back then, not the 4-5mv versions. Perhaps that's the reason for the different experience.
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nedmast
17 posts
 
I have used my VPI HW-19 MkIV with Graham 1.5t with a wood bodied Grado cartridge (forgotten which model) without problem. But I agree with Markd51; the audio-technica AT150MLX works beautifully with that combo. I found mine on Audiogon at a good price and couldn't be happier. (I've since switched it over to my Nakamichi Dragon, in which it also works beautifully). A very nice cartridge that one can listen to for hours without fatigue.
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