Cartridge recommedations

Greg,

I have nothing to recommend, in the same boat...

I just upgraded my TT and am also looking to upgrade my MM cartridge (AT-VM95SH)... I called my local private super high end audio retailer (drug dealer) and after talking about the type of music I listen to, (Everything except rap and sorry to say 90% of anything being released today...) he suggested the Ortofon Quintet bronze, so now Im going to be glued to this thread...

Welcome

I have been reading what reviews that are on the net and that is why I was asking about the cart's I listed.

They seemed to have the best reviews but I wanted some opinions from people who have used them.

I would love to be able to spent a couple thousand for one but as I am 100% disabled that is not in the cards.

Greg

are you keeping the SOTA ?
i like the Dynavector and the Ortofon Bronze about equally well, hundreds of hours listening to both in friends / relatives systems.

I think I will keep it.

I sold it a few years ago to another audiogon user and when he received it the platter had a big wobble in it.

I refunded his money and shipping charges and when I got it back I found it was damaged in shipping.

I pulled the platter and found that it had been bounced around so much the screws that hold down the bearing had backed off.

I tightened them up and took 99.9% of the wobble out.

It still has a slight wobble to it but doesn't affect the playback of the records.

I don't I would feel confortable selling it to someone in that condition even though it still sounds real good.

Greg

tomic601

Forgot to thank you for the cart info.

Greg

Dear @gregaba  : Your Muuusic Hall tonearm is an unipivot design and the worst kind of design especially with MC cartridges.

In the other side, the premounted cartridge in that TT is an Audio Technica one that you can up-grade by a wide margin with a replacement AT top stylus that can competes with those MC cartridges.

You can see here or ask LP Gear for the ATN95MR. You can't be disappointed with:

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

That is one of the reasons I was asking my question. I have never used a unipivot arm before.

I have a extra Mission and a Raga 301b I could swap on and an older SME long arm I could use.

I will look up somw reviews and see what they say about the ATN95MR.

Thank you for the info.

Greg

Good thread.  I am also looking for a new cart and money is tight.  AT, Hana, and ZYX are on my radar.  I am not allergic to MM and Nagaoka also on the radar.  

I've just ordered the Rega Ania and expecting it tomorrow. It will be used on a Sony PS-x50 turntable and is my first MC cartridge so,,, fingers crossed I can set it up properly. I'll report back once I have an impression.

I've had the Dynavector 10X5 for years and love it. This replaces a Rega cartridge that cane with with Rega 3 table.

Haven't tried any of the others...

GB

Hello,

The good thing is these carts are all a little laid back. The Dynavecktor 10x5 mk2 comes in low and high output. The low is used like a typical MC cart and the high is used as a MM cart. I have the low output and it is great. A friend of mine had the Hana SL and said it was the best $750 cart he ever had. In fact he said he would put it against carts that are 3-4x more expensive. He now has a $4000 cart and that is the only reason he sold it. I think think the Hana SL is the cart for you because none of the other carts have this many great reviews. I have the Quintet Black by Ortifon and the Shibata stylus on a Mark Levenson 5105 tt is a PITA to set up, but once dialed in it’s amazing once it’s dialed in.  The Ania is a great cart but a little on the high side of price that is better for the Rega tt due to the easy setup because of the third Head space screw. The Ania and the Ania pro are great on a Rega P6 or P8. I wish the Ortifon came with the same stylus as the Cadenza series but it doesn’t. So I say skip it. I did install a Dynavecktor 20x on a VPI prime with unipivot arm and it was great. So bottom line. If you want to use a MM setting on your phono stage go with Dynavecktor 10x5 mk2 high output. If you want to go with the MC setting go with the Hana SL. I hope this helps. 

Hi Greg,

I have a Hana SL on my VPI Scout (unipivot arm) and absolutely love it. I did an a/b comparison when I had the Nagaoka MP300 and the Hana beat it in my opinion. The Hana had a larger soundstage and  seemed more rhythmic than the Nagaoka. I can’t comment on the comparison with Dynavector. 
 

Best of luck on your journey, it’s a lot of fun!

I want to thank everyone for your reply's. I still havn't made a decision and am not sure what will meet my expection's.

I read all the reviews on carts that i can find and some of them don't really say much. I was really surprised about the review of the AT carts in Sterophile. I was all ways under the impression they were a entry level cart and as soon as you could you up graded them.

Well the search continues.

Greg

I went from a Hana SH (HOMC) to an Audio Technica AT33SA (LOMC).

I like the AT better.

Think Long Now.

I prefer wide channel separation, combined with tight channel balance, which provides terrific imaging. IOW, use that to narrow the list. Then, does it sound good???

You have tools and skills for alignment?

Advanced Stylus Shape’s last longer, thus not much more costly over time.

Cantilever no stiffer than Boron (they get dangerously brittle).

Single Arm: Changeable Headshells. Perhaps a headshell allowing Azimuth Adjustment.

Better yet, slightly larger TT with two tonearms ready to go instantly in any listening session, i.e. Favorite on Main arm (could be fixed cartridge); 2nd arm (changable headshell) for: alternates, perhaps mono, 2nd favorite MC or MM elliptical stereo iow any other on second arm.

A SUT with two inputs (now or future), optional loading/x factors, and Pass for MM

....................................

Cartridges’s I have owned anf kept in order of preference. Newer versions exist of some.

MC

AT33PTGII, my first MC, ML stylus on Boron, terrific at everything, Chamber to Santana

Goldring, Eroica LO MC Unique Gyger II line contact stylus. A bit less separation which can be good for some content, i.e. Bill Evans at Village Vanguard.

MM

AT440ML, ML Stylus on aluminum, just beats my Shure

Shure V15Vxmr body with replacement Jico Shibata on Boron, with brush (not damped). Grace F9E (my close friend’s favorite MM, sounds great). Shure M97xe, elliptical on aluminum with damped brush deals with warps https://www.shure.com/en-EU/products/dj-phono/m97xe Mono: Grado Elliptical

I am still looking and taking all recommendation's.

I do have the set up skills and have set up some very finicky arm's in the past including the Schiit Sol for a buddy. 

That one was a lot of fun but sounded great once dialed in.

The reason I was looking at the MC carts is several years ago I had a Ortofon Blupunke {sp ?] B that I had re tipped be Soundsmith and haven't been able to get that great sound since. When I think about selling it I get a beer and start crying.

Oh well not the only great decision I have made in my life.

Greg