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Help Please: What Cartridge?

I am on an upgrade path in anolog front end and could use some feedback. I have a VPI MK IV, which I am upgrading to the new HR-X bearing and platter. I also am waiting on a JMW 10 arm I purchased on Augiogon. Previously I had a Rega Planar 3 with Dynavector 10X4 MK II, which I sold off. I am not sure if I made a wise decision selling the Dynavector but I was so impressed with this cartridge I wanted to get more. Other than a Denon DL103, which I had before my current system (ver low end so the true capability of this cartridge was never known to me), the Dyna was the only cartridge that I have heard (sorry I did own an AKG cartridge way back on a pioneer direct drive turntable but we won't talk about that) so I really don't know what various cartridges will sound like and am stuck trying to decide. The other problem is whether I should stick with high output MC or go low output and add a transformer. Is there really that much difference between the two? The Dynavector seamed fine to me but again I don't know what I am missing. Seams to me you may loose any advantage you may have gained in the low output cartridges by the addition of another component such as the step up and cables. My current system consists of VTL TT25 monblocks, Coincident Super Eclipse speakers, Rogue Audio Magnum 99 with phono and upgraded to premium GE NOS and Mullard NOS, Wireworld Silver Eclipse III speaker cables, Peirre Gabriel ML1 silver interconnects and Foundation Research line conditioners. My digital is Pioneer DV-09 (temporary), which I don't listen to much. Incidentally I had a Cary 303/200 but returned it to build my analog because my Rega setup sounded better!! Any help would be appreciated. The cartridges I have considered are Dyna 20HX,Karat 17, Benz Micro H2, Shelters, Grados, Clearaudio Virtuosso and Lyra Helikon. I listen mostly to Classical, Jazz and pop in that order. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.
talentkeeper
rockinroni's avatar
rockinroni
287 posts
 
Talentkeper, very nice system.
I personally cannot listen to and compare all the great cartridges. So like you I need to solicite others opinions.

Here are a couple of sites to checkout if you haven't already. These 2 guys don't get paid for their opinions or to do reviews. Even Mikey gave the Crown jewel
(Shelter 501 mkII) a Stereophile class "A" rating.

http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-Cartridges.html

http://www.21stcenturyservices.com/audio/Shel_501.htm

Cheers,
Ron
Ag insider logo xs@2x
ivanj
35 posts
 
If you had a good synergistic soundwith the dyna I would stick with that before I moved into the expensive world of transformers and low output cartridges. The new 10x and 20 are very good indeed.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
If you're not going to get separate phono or step-up transformer than you'd better consider cartridges above 0.8mV Benz M2 must be a perfect match to both: your built-in phono(if you have MC) and your future turntable.
slipknot1
1,423 posts
 
I use the high output Dyna 20X on my VPI Scout/JMW arm setup into an Audio Research SP9 MKII and am very pleased with the results. That arm with that cart seem to mate well. If you go with the HO version, you can eliminate the expense of a step up device. (IMO, to not degrade the sound, you have to be willing to invest some money in the transformer and another set of cables).

The 20X puts out around 2.3mV, so you should have no troubles at all with the Rogue.
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
just be aware that the arm & cartridge need to be compatible, regarding cartrige compliance & effective arm mass. I dunno those spec's for either your Dyna or JMW so you'll need to find out. When you do get that information then refer to this link, which has the info. that you'll need to find out if in fact you have that compatibility factor:
http://www.gcaudio.com/Archives/tonearmcartidge.htm
Also, do browse around the analog corner archives while you're there; you'll learn alot:
http://www.gcaudio.com/Archives/gcaarchives.html

I also have a MK-IV with the aforementioned bearing/platter upgrades. FYI: I have the Grado Signature arm (medium mass) with the Grado Statement Reference {the 0.5mV low output model} (medium compliance) which is an excellent sounding combo. If you're willing to $pend at that level (apparently so) you would probably need the high output model though, or at least the medium one due to your low-ish phono gain. Yes the lower output models do offer better transparency, but as you say, the required step-up transformer might negate that benefit. I've seen these $1200 list Grado's available for around $800 new. These Grado's are not moving coils, nor are they moving magnets. They're variable-reluctance moving-iron designs, which combine the benefit of m.c.'s low cantilever mass without some of the other drawbacks of either moving coil or moving magnet architectures.
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