2. analog
  3. 151647-89561

Best $250 max phono Cart

G'day mates -

I'm loaning a friend my old turntable/amp (Nottingham Analogue Horizon, Rega tonearm, Rega Brio integrated amp with built-in phono).  He'll need to purchase a cartridge but does not want to spend more than $250.   He'll be listening to mostly rock & pop 60's-90's.  I also have an Auditorium 23 SUT intended for the Denon 103, but that $350 for a new Denon 103 price tag is too steep for him.  I see the Audio-Technica VM540ML ($249) as a top seller on Needle Doctor, but I have not heard it.  I'm curious if you have recommendations at this price range? Or, should I just tell him to bite the bullet and get a denon 103/R? Thanks in advance!
mikld

Showing 2 responses by uberwaltz

uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Btw I run my MP150 at 0pf on my Chinook so just whatever the cabling adds.
Just to my ears it sounded ever so slightly more fleshed out than at 50pf.
Obviously YMMV.

And yes Al, trying to find that information for the MP150 is impossible as they do not provide it.
The older mp10 to 50 was listed at 100pf but they do not publish any figures for the MP x00 series carts.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
The MP150 beats out some 1k plus carts in my system that are now just gathering dust in the drawer.
Only cart that has supplanted it of late is a vintage nos Astatic MF100.

You can find deals on the MP150 occasionally on eBay.
More to discover