Best cheapo Cartridge
Dear @lohanimal : Yes, cantilever is only one part of the cartridge. This is an example of cartridges using the 103 motor: https://audiofederation.com/dealership/prices/magic-diamond/ and that model is not its top of the line but is around 5K dollars. R. |
Dear @parrotbee : You are rigth. From some years now exist several truly expensive LOMC cartridges ( over 5K-6K prices. ) that use the DL 103 cartridge motor with different build materials in the body, cantilever build materials, stylus shapes and kind of wire in the coils but the " motor " is the one by Denon. As I said I still have the venerable 103 and between other of its brothers the 103D that's good performer and competitive with today higher price cartridges. @vpi move with the 103M was and is really worth to do it and he knows by the rewardings he is achieving in quality level performance. I own and owned several Denon audio items: TT, tonearms, cartridges, electronics, etc, etc, and never found out any Denon audio item where I can say: that is a bad item, never. Now, I have more than " curiosity " about the 103M. R. |
Dear @vpi : My first LOMC cartridge was the 103 that I still have. In those old times Denons puts in the market several versions of the 103 like the one you named, some only for the japanese market, that unfortunatelly I never had the opportunity to listen it. I have not an opinion on that specific model. Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS, R. |
Dear @normansizemore : "
So clearly, they must be doing something right, as they are still enjoyed by many. " you are rigth on your common sense statement and I gree too because I owned and I think still own at least one Nagaoka cartridge but some people like to talk mybe by ignorance or personal " agenda ": who knows. R. |
Dear @pops : I posted about MM cartridges because you ask for but in reality you own two LOMC cartridges that can't be outperformed by MM ones. I owned the Jubilee and owned the the Transfiguration Temper and Phoenix S and listened the Proteus that is excellent performer. To fix both great cartridges is the best alternative if you want that high quality level performance. Other than SS exist other rettipers as Van den Hul or Northwest Analogue ( https://www.northwestanalogue.com/cartridge-repairs.html ) or Expert Stylus and some others out there. So you have option about. Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS, R. |
Dear @agrippa @pops : Yes, Audio Technica is synonimous of quality. Here we can read something about the VM new series owners opinions: https://www.audio-technica.com/cms/cartridges/6637a2f0787470c3/index.html#showreviews and here we can read what M.Fremer found out in a comparison cartridges review where a very humble AT95E was one of the contenders and other AT was the AT95SA ( I still own this " baby ". ) with different stylus. It's extremely good performer even at that so cheap/low price: https://www.analogplanet.com/content/nine-cartridges-compared-reviewed-and-voting-results R. |
Dear @pops : You don't need to look for vintage cartridges when you can own today really good cartridge performers coming from many solid and well regarded manufacturers as: Ortofon, Nagaoka, Grado, SoundSmith, Audio Note, Audio Technica, Goldring, Clearaudio and others. With the advantage that you have a manufacturer warranty for your unit and for the replacement stylus when you need it. Only you need is to go to those manufacturers sites, here Audio Technica: https://www.audio-technica.com/cgi-bin/product_search/cartridges/cartridges.pl?lang=eng Btw, @noromance it's obvious that a 249.00 cartridge can't compete with that Decca but for its low price is better performer that what we can think. Audio Technica has all alternatives for any audiophile but other manufacturers have good options too. Audio Note MM are excellent. Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS, R. |
