2. analog
  3. 149658-7

Best cheapo Cartridge

In a bind, I have 2 cartridges that have seen better days.   My Ortofon Jubilee has at least 1500 hours on it and I’m starting to hear a drop in performance.  My Transfiguration Proteus only has 450 hours but is on the fritz and they are OOB.

I have too many irons in the fire to spend alot and need one to hold me over for a while.  Thinking about a MM, like Ortofon or Grado.  Would be mating with a Basis Vector 4 tonearm, Basis 2200 sig, and either Allnic H3000 or ARC PH 5.  Speakers are Thiels.  

Analog heads please give me some advice.   I have no experience with MM or MI or than many cartridges in my system  for that matter.  


pops

Showing 3 responses by uberwaltz

uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Be hard pressed to find a good FR-5E for much less than a $100 nowadays Chakster. And nearly all I have seen for sale of late are in Russia or Japan, hard to find one here in USA.

And it is a very light cart so not going to suit all arms for sure.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Fstein.
Thank you for the tip
As my cart is nearly new, well less than 100 hours I hope it will be a LONG time before I need a new stylus.
However I will look into it, maybe having an upgraded stylus might also make sense.
Thank you
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
I bought a Nagoaka mp150 as a cheap backup cart and was shocked how well it performed.

So much so that it has not left my deck since I installed to see what it sounded like!
The pair of $1500 and $2900 MC carts are now the backups.

Great deals to be had on Nagoaka on eBay for sure.
Highly recommended!
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