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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 3 responses by winegasman

winegasman OP
100 posts
 
Thanks for the help so far. I had to check with Steve at theanalogdept.com to figure out what the stock arm is on my TD-320. It's a TP16-IV. Its effective mass is 12.5 grams. Based on a formula on Steve's site I plugged in the weight of the DL-103 (8.5 g) and the compliance (which if I'm reading internet info correctly is 56 cm) and learned that this arm/cart combo will put my resonant frequency out of the recommended range of 8 - 12 hz. (THIS IS NOW EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT THE SUBJECT!) So, it appears, if these numbers are correct, that the DL-103 would not mate well with my rig. Oh well.

So, there's also been good reviews for the AT-OC9ml/II. I've tried to discover the cart weight and compliance for this cart but have had no luck. Does anyone have that info? Also, will the AT cart give me the same results as the Denon MC cart (vs. my v15vxmr) -- more air, greater detail, just more musicality? Thanks again,
Rich
winegasman OP
100 posts
 
Thanks Stefani. If you're sure on the numbers then I guess I'm at these choices: (1) DL-103 or AT-OC9ML/II, and (2) a decent, inexpensive step-up transformer to mate with my Gram Amp 2SE. Thanks again, Rich
winegasman OP
100 posts
 
Thanks so far. I guess I'm going to keep my eye out for a used DL-103 or a used AT-OC9ML/II and get whichever comes along at a reasonable price first.

Now, as far as a preamp for an MC, it seems to me to make more sense to get a stand-alone phono preamp rather than a DIY stepup transformer kit. Does anyone have any experience with either of these 2 preamps (Musical Fidelity X-LP or Rotel RQ-970BX), which both handle MC and which are both available used right now? Thanks for your help, Rich
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