Cartridge for VPI TT with JMW 9 tonearm
I see that in all my babble I failed to include a comment directly to your lineup choices. The OC9 series is quite good at their price point. I've used the OC9 III. Be aware AT's can have a VERY active top end. The newer series appears to give more stylus options. If you go AT, choose the most your wallet will tolerate. |
Usaudiomart has a few interesting cartridges a Hana eh and a Soundsmith Carmen with low hours. I have always had luck on the gently used market. You can usually make a deal for under the asking price. I'm currently using a Carmen 2 on a VPI Aries Scout with the JMW 9 with excellent results. I did have to add a headshell weight which was about $5 on eBay. I've also used a Sumiko Bluepoint Evo 3 with equally good results. Good luck. |
A popular $1K cart for the VPI is the Audio Technica ART9. You can find the 1st generation for under $1K https://www.lpgear.com/product/ATART9.html There are plenty of threads on the ART 9. Your phono stage is up to the task, but the ART9 or equivalent will sound even better with a phono stage higher up the food chain. Consider $2K+ in the future( find used for half). I've been using a $400 Soundsmith Otello after crashing an ART9. It's performance is so good, I've been able to postpone buying another ART 9 or better. This because I have a phono stage capable of supporting $5K+ carts. My phonostage is long discontinued, so not worth mentioning. I do use tubes though. Better performance with a lesser cart/better phono stage than the opposite. |
Your arm and table are irrelevant. What matters is your phono stage and ears. Select a cartridge with enough output to work well with your stage. MM or MC is irrelevant, as long as the output is there. Do NOT use this criteria to select the cartridge! Use output to exclude from consideration only. Then look through those that are left by reading reviewers listening impressions. Pick the one you like the best that also has enough output. This is the recipe for success. Lots of great medium output MC for under a grand. Lots of good MM too. At the level you're at you can get huge performance from a budget cart by improving the phono stage. So don't be afraid to use a "cheap" ($250-500) cartridge. If doing so might help upgrade the stage sooner that could prove a wise move. |
Do your self a favor and try Teo_Audios' CBP M&M cart for $250.00 with a 2 week return policy, you won't return it. This is a reworked AT VMN cart with a bonded elliptical stylus, just upgraded mine to a Microline stylus and love this cart on my Scout with the 9 arm and has replaced a ART 9 at 4 times the cost. Enjoy the music |
The Denon and the AT are the best choices here! I am a longtime user of Denon MC cartridges. I presently have a 103R mounted on a Pioneer PLX1000 TT. Sounds excellent! Also have a 103/Grace 707 arm on an Ariston RDIIS TT. Again, excellent SQ! In general I prefer MC cartridges because they just sound more vibrant and lively than MM/MI types! |
