A new Question: Moving Magnet Cartridge To Compliment My Rock Collection
I am looking for a MM cartridge to work well with my VPI Prime Turntable with the 3D arm and to compliment my large Rock collection. Presently I have a ZU/Denon DL103 MC cartridge with a bent canteliver. I will be sending it to Soundsmith for repair and keep it as a spare. My Rogue tube preamp accepts MC and MM cartridges. I want to keep this in the 500-600 range new and cheaper if used. Recommendations and why?
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@tooblue you know that you can easily edit your post 15 min after it was published? @stereo5 Cartridge can't recognize the genge of music you're playing on, really good cartridge plays all king of music. If your music it too complicated you need high compliance cartridge (most likely) and at least Shibata/LineContact stylus tip. Rock music is not too complicated like the big band jazz for example. When you will get your low compliance 103 re-tipped and upgraded (with a better stylus profile) back from SoundSmith you will realize the disadvantages of the conical stylus you've been using before. To beat the SS re-tipped Denon you need a proper MM cartridge if you want to try something different. Look for the used JVC Victor X-1II or new Garrott P77i within your budged. Or read MM thread for more options (but it can bee too much new information). If you're a fan of the Denon stock sound with conical tip then try vintage DL-107 which you can find for peanuts with broken cantilever, i have NOS (still factory sealed) stylus for this cartridge. Denon DL-107 was MM alternatilve to the 103. It was made for NHK studio broadcast in Japan. |
I bought a Gold Note Vasari Black from the Canadian distributor a few months ago for less than $400 and my tastes are the same as yours. It's an incredible producer for the Stones, Eagles, Neil Young (in any decade), Fleet Foxes, LZ, Cream, Mellencamp, Bread (!), and Linda Ronstadt's entire collection, too. I have Mc gear driving old school JBL 4311s and new school Audiovector QR1s . No complaints from either! See Tone Audio review page 110 from February 9 https://www.tonepublications.com/MAGPDF/TA_082.pdf |
My local "audio salon" cartridge expert dude recommended an inexpensive Sumiko Pearl a few years ago as an interim solution until I could decide which more precious cartridge I wanted to eventually try (Linn Akito arm). I had been listening to an annoyingly bright (in my system anyway) AT440 that I sold quickly, and the Pearl sounded a LOT better…years pass and I not only love the tone of the Pearl, I bought a re-tip for it. Still, an utter bargain only suffering from credibility issues due to its low cost. |
@lpplayer I found the name of the distributor, Tri-Cell Enterprises for the Gold Note Cartridge. I received email from them asking me to call tomorrow and I can order directly from them. I will be doing just that. Thank you very much for the tip. I had never heard of this company before and the price is certainly right. |
My record collection is 95% rock. Classic and other. I have always loved Goldring 1022 gx. Even better than the more expensive 1042. It has plenty of grunt for rock. Higher output, slight warmth that emphasizes the bass region a little, and a gorgeous midrange. Also a smooth , detailed top end. I have used it on a VPI Scout. Loved it. |
I received the Gold Note Vasari Gold cartridge and spent over 2 hours setting it up on my Prime turntable. So far, it sounds great right out of the box. When I get more time I will spin more records. Unfortunately, my wife was in an accident and is permanently parked on the couch for a week or two while all her bruises heal :( You guessed it, the Prime is in the same room. |