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Budget MC Suggestions?

I've been back into vinyl for over a year now, enjoying it all immensely. I have a Thorens TD-320 with Shure V15VxMR playing through a Gram Amp 2 SE phono stage and I do love the sound. But I've been reading so much about the superior sonic quality of low output MC that I've gotten very curious. To the best of my knowledge, in 35 years of listening to records I've never heard an MC cart. So, I'm wondering two things. First, is it possible on a shoestring budget (say $300 for cartridge and phono stage or transformer, used is fine) to find an MC set-up that will sound better than my present MM set-up? If so, what preamp and cart do you recommend? If it's not possible on that budget, how much does one have to invest in MC to outperform the V15-Gram Amp 2SE set-up? Second, what exactly are the sonic improvements I should expect to hear? Thanks, Rich
winegasman

Showing 2 responses by mrkidknow

mrkidknow
26 posts
 
The AT-OC9/II weighs 8 grams (don't know the value when expressing to tenths of a gram) and has a compliance rating of 9 cu.

I don't know if this cartridge sounds better than the Denon DL-103R but I seem to recall seeing several people post on Audio Asylum that they liked the AT more than the Denon.

I'm pretty sure the AT will put much less wear on your LPs than the DL-103R. The AT-OC9/II uses a microline stylus and recommends 1.25 -1.75 grams of tracking force. The DL-103R uses a conical stylus and requires 2.3 - 2.7 grams tracking force. A conical stylus has a smaller surface area contact with records than elliptical, Shibata, and Fineline styli. Thus, the higher tracking force coupled with smaller surface contact are means the DL-103R is likely to put more wear on your records. I love Denon cartridges but will never try these high tracking force, conical stylus versions because of the potential for excessive record wear.

One counter argument to keep in mind is this: The conical stylus will ride higher in the groove. If wear is more excessive, when it is time to replace the DL-103R, you can then change to an elliptical/fineline/Shibata design which will ride deeper in the groove and probably will bypass some of the wear.

Mr. Kidknow
mrkidknow
26 posts
 
Stefanl,

Denon measures their compliance value at 100 Hz. Several people have posted over on Audio Asylum that Denon Cartridges (at least the 103 series) typically have compliance values around double the advertized value when measuring in the 10 Hz range. For example, the DL-103 and DL-103R are advertized as having 5 cu but people have been finding it's more like ~ 9 cu. Using your weights and the 9 cu value, I get 11.3 Hz resonance.

I don't own any of the DL-103 series cartridges so I can't speak from direct experience on this issue.

Mr. Kidknow
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