Cartridge recommendations


I think I need to replace my MC cartridge.  It's a Madrigal Carnegie.  I'm no longer convinced that a replacement needs to be a MC.  That was true when I bought the Carnegie but time and technology have changed.  I read last night that under $500 you're better off getting a MM.  At the $500 point and up, a MC starts to make sense.  At the $1,000 point, absolutely, get a MC.  But that was one opinion.

I'm setting a tentative budget of $1,000 to $1,500.  At $2,000 I become Ukrainian (fierce resistance occurs).

I have a Grado cartridge that I use on my 'other' TT and have a preference toward Grado cartridges.  As an aside, I visited the Grado website last night and found it very difficult to navigate.  I wanted to start by selecting a price, then go from there.  I could not find any pricing in the brief time I spent there.  I know it's there, I've seen it.  I'll try again.

So I'm looking for suggestions.  MM, MI, or MC.  I prefer warmish (Grado is known for that), smooth and hopefully detailed.  Sound staging is irrelevant.

I've started a second discussion aimed at questioning if the Carnegie is truly dead, as I fear.  If you want to chime in on that I welcome your expertise.

listener2

Showing 1 response by blisshifi

Look at the Audio Technica ART9XI. It retails at $1,500 but can be had for less. It’s my favorite cartridge $5K and less, and I’ve tried a number of cartridges from other manufacturers. Eventually I bought an Air Tight PC-1s that retailed $8K to replace it, and now at the My Sonic Lab Signature Gold. 

Search for “ART9” on these forums and you will find some very lengthy threads on the original version of this cartridge vetted by dozens of Audiogon members.