Thanks Larry (Transnova) for your donation of your NOS Grado to a college student analog convert. You are a scholar and a gentleman!
Best cheap cartridge for college student
Two of my college sons have adopted my analog affliction by picking up cheap TT's (read free) but without any cartridges. One recently came home for Christmas break with a Dual CS2110 table from the 80's that used to have some Ortofon cartridge on it. He has a Rotel integrated amp with MM and MC and listens mostly to reggae/Ska music. He can afford perhaps $150 for a cartridge. What should I advise him?
1) Forget it, put the money into CD
2) Put the Dual back in the trash bin where you found it and wait til you can afford at least a used Rega2
3) wait to be able to buy something like a Denon DL103
4) Buy the 'X' cartridge (you fill in) it's a deal for the price and OK until you get a better TT.
5) Other advice
1) Forget it, put the money into CD
2) Put the Dual back in the trash bin where you found it and wait til you can afford at least a used Rega2
3) wait to be able to buy something like a Denon DL103
4) Buy the 'X' cartridge (you fill in) it's a deal for the price and OK until you get a better TT.
5) Other advice
12 responses Add your response
I had a Shure M97xE on my first "good/cheap" TT, an early AR ES-1 with Linn Basik arm (I paid $35for it!). The Shure did fine. I still have it around as my spare cart. I'd recommend it--it should work fine in that setup, and the little brush can be good for someone who might not care for their records properly. Mine picked up plenty of dust bunnies before I got a VPI RCM. FWIW, I was in college when I got the Shure ;) Like tommy says, watch out for humming Grados. |
Dual worked directly with Ortofon on a line of cartridges called the "Concorde". These were specifically designed to integrate well with their arms. The name came from the shape of the cartridge, which somewhat resembled the jet of the same name. The OM series was the commercial equivalent of the Concorde line as designed to work with other makes & models of turntanbles. By purchasing the lower cost Super OM-10, one can upgrade to a Super OM- 30 by simply swapping in a new stylus. This allows one to start cheap and then upgrade as one desires should they decide to stick with playing vinyl. The use of such a cartridge takes any guesswork out of the cartridge / arm matching equation, allows pretty solid performance with a minimal investment and even keeps the door open for future upgrades at reduced cost. Sean > PS... You might want to check around on price. I linked to the Needle Doctor as their website typically provides a good amount of info about the product. |
Oh, I had a Shure M97 (not the xE) a long time ago and I wouldn't buy one again, sorry. I didn't like the midrange balance. Any cheap Grado, like a Black, would be my preference now. They sound fine in the mids where the music is, are rugged and won't damage LPs. Not that Shures won't keep your discs safe too, it's just that IMNVHO, Shures don't hit the magic music-for-money mark until you get to the V15 IV or better. |
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