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Cartridge for the JMW 10.5i

I've been looking for a cartridge to replace my Shelter 501 which I never really liked neither on the JMW 9 Signature nor the JMW 10.5i. It sounds better on the latter though with 3 grams added mass... Nevertheless, no matter what I do I can't get rid of some graininess and sibilance on some LPs (not only SH but new as well) and I simply refuse not to listen to my record collection because of this.

Also, in my system Shelter 501 sounds as if there were three separate layers of frequencies that don't mix really well because the midband was a bit thinner, although when the recording is good (let's say MoFi Aimee Mann How Am I Different...) there's nothing wrong with it and it's excellent.

I'm looking for a warm sounding cartridge that will be a good tracker and one that will serve vocals and winds/brass and acoustic instruments well.

I was looking at the Dynavector (from XX2 to DV-1), ZYX (Fuji - 4D), Transfiguration Phoenix, Koetsu Rosewood.
I was suggested to consider Soundsmith and Lyra as well...

Will my tonearm be able to optimize any of those cartridges or should I look somewhere else...
janhavjar

Showing 1 response by robm1

robm1
28 posts
 
Hi

I think you should rethink the phonostage. Back a few years back I had a 501 and Whest PS.20. It sounded great. I had no issues with the combination. I went from a 501 to the 901 which was much better, faster, bigger and just more realistic. I don't know the NAT phonostage but found the 501 needed about 63dB-65dB of gain and about 120ohms of load. Your NAT looks like it max gain is only 60dB which is good for 0.6mV cartridges. I know that this part will upset many folks out there BUT also... I don't think input transformers and MC cartridges work well together. Yes, I'm in that camp BUT I now own an Ortofon Windfeld and A90 as well as other cartridges and every time I hear these played though a tube stage using transformers or a solid state stage using transformers, the sound leaves me cold and wondering 'what the hell is going on'. Failing all of that, the new Cadenza series by Ortofon are very good, BUT I really like the 501!

I'd look at something else in the system as the 501 is a good'n'.

Rob
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