VPI Classic Cartridge Help

Dynavector over Shelter unless you want a "tipped up" bottom and top end.The Sumiko is good at that price too.Benz I am not sure at the price point.One thing you might consider if your a heavy original jazz collector or buying the mono 45 rpm re-issues is getting a mono cart and having it do the duty for beaters.For me that works and Grado Sonata while not last word in resolution can be gotten in mono.Trying to think of others in that price range (if I could swing it I would have a mono Lyra Helikon myself but that's 4 times price).Get the Dyna.If you could swing it Karat 17D would be great but it is pretty delicate.Another shot would be cheap Denon DL103 a perennial budget champ and then save for a Cart in $750 to $1500 (or twice that) to match the rest of your system which would be my choice for clean LP's.It's the cart and good stage that will give you most sound quality.Depends on how much wax your gonna play clean but that a damn fine system and a fine deck your getting.Cheap for beaters and latter an extra 10.5 arm tube and cart.Gotta lay off the espresso on days off.
Chazzz

I think it's not so much a question of what Cartridge will work well with the JMW Arm, but what will ideally work with the WestTWO Phono Stage?

Keep in mind gents, the OP stated a Cartridge between $5-$700, not $5K-$7K. :-)

Only by reading the review on Whest's site, did I find enough info about gain, and loading, to see there are only a few options for each. And as it's been mentioned on the review, is a shortcoming of the WhestTwo, in that it appears to offer only 3 gain, and 3 loading settings.

So, with that said, it appears most MM's wouldn't be a problem, with gain at 40db, and a default loading of 47K. Provided there's no compliance issues, seems that many nice MM's could be a candidate. I know many might frown on an MM, thinking that the Classic does perhaps deserve, and can make use of more expensive MC's.

The other options, that could perhaps make use of the Whest's MM settings, would be a hi-output MC? (Say such like a Benz HO Ace, Glider, etc?) I am not sure?

Seems like there's a huge "hole" between 40db, and 65db-70db. Thus perhaps eliminating many med output MC's?

As for a fine low output MC, here's where there might be difficulty, finding optimum loading, rather than finding optimum gain per given cartridge.
Mark

>09-05-10: Sounds_real_audio
I would suggest you upgrade to the Karate. It is a cartridge that far surpasses its modest price range<<

Well first, soundsreally is a Dynavector retailer and needs to disclose a financial interest when recommending a product he sells.

And second, it's Karat not Karate.

You'd think a retailer would know his line well enough to identify the product correctly.

Or not.

Dealer disclaimer

The AT 33 EV is even better than the OC 9 and is occasionally available at J&R for $400. I currently have a Denon 304 in my Classic.

The Classic will come with a Stylus Force Scale (Shure), and a VPI Cartridge Alignment Jig. If you can set up a Cartridge like the Ortofon Blue, you could set up a Koetsu Coralstone as well.

If you've liked the Ortofon Blue, found it's output adequate for the Whest, then perhaps swap it onto the VPI, or one could move up the Ortofon line with a similar output? (Black, or?)

Actually none of us savor the thought of Cartridge set up, it is time consuming, and very delicate work with a possibility of Fubar, especially with a Unipivot Arm, which balances on the head of a single Pin Pivot.

If you do feel safer though, letting a dealer set it up, I would at least ask them if you could perhaps be present to watch-witness installation/set up, so you have an understanding of what is being done, and why.

The more you know about your table-arm, the better. Mark