Budget MC Suggestions?

Thanks for the help so far. I had to check with Steve at theanalogdept.com to figure out what the stock arm is on my TD-320. It's a TP16-IV. Its effective mass is 12.5 grams. Based on a formula on Steve's site I plugged in the weight of the DL-103 (8.5 g) and the compliance (which if I'm reading internet info correctly is 56 cm) and learned that this arm/cart combo will put my resonant frequency out of the recommended range of 8 - 12 hz. (THIS IS NOW EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT THE SUBJECT!) So, it appears, if these numbers are correct, that the DL-103 would not mate well with my rig. Oh well.

So, there's also been good reviews for the AT-OC9ml/II. I've tried to discover the cart weight and compliance for this cart but have had no luck. Does anyone have that info? Also, will the AT cart give me the same results as the Denon MC cart (vs. my v15vxmr) -- more air, greater detail, just more musicality? Thanks again,
Rich

The AT-OC9/II weighs 8 grams (don't know the value when expressing to tenths of a gram) and has a compliance rating of 9 cu.

I don't know if this cartridge sounds better than the Denon DL-103R but I seem to recall seeing several people post on Audio Asylum that they liked the AT more than the Denon.

I'm pretty sure the AT will put much less wear on your LPs than the DL-103R. The AT-OC9/II uses a microline stylus and recommends 1.25 -1.75 grams of tracking force. The DL-103R uses a conical stylus and requires 2.3 - 2.7 grams tracking force. A conical stylus has a smaller surface area contact with records than elliptical, Shibata, and Fineline styli. Thus, the higher tracking force coupled with smaller surface contact are means the DL-103R is likely to put more wear on your records. I love Denon cartridges but will never try these high tracking force, conical stylus versions because of the potential for excessive record wear.

One counter argument to keep in mind is this: The conical stylus will ride higher in the groove. If wear is more excessive, when it is time to replace the DL-103R, you can then change to an elliptical/fineline/Shibata design which will ride deeper in the groove and probably will bypass some of the wear.

Mr. Kidknow

I figure the Denon 103 would have a cartridge resonance of about 13Hz on your arm Winegasman,and this is just about perfect anyway and would be a good match.With resonance you have to get it away from the danger zone of below 8Hz really.To raise it to 13Hz is quite good and a figure I would be really happy with.This would not interfere with low level music signals coming in at say 15Hz(Church Organ)and is well away from the mechanical resonances of the table.Years ago Paol Ladegaard recommended 15-18Hz as the ideal.You are in no danger.

Thanks Stefani. If you're sure on the numbers then I guess I'm at these choices: (1) DL-103 or AT-OC9ML/II, and (2) a decent, inexpensive step-up transformer to mate with my Gram Amp 2SE. Thanks again, Rich

Now the compliance is either 5 or 6cu.These are my calculations-based on Total Weight-12.5gms for the arm plus fixtures(nuts and bolts)1gm,plus cartridge weight,8.5gms=22gms.Then you multiply this by the compliance(5cu vertical for the DL-103)Find the square root of this figure and divide it into 159.155(The magic formula)giving a cartridge resonance of 15Hz.Which is still fine as the Denon only goes down to 20Hz.I checked the Denon Japan site and they gave the compliance as 5cu although I had calculated for 6cu which I thought the cartridge was-my info is old or wrong? But either way you are O.K.It is low resonance which is the major problem.