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 2 responses by westcoastaudiophile

try to find Audio Technica AT-ML170 or AT-ML180 used in good condition.

I have tried (too) many AT carts, including 160ML, 150MLX, AT24, ART7, ART9, and recently found as ML170 beats most, and does sound very transparent and “airy”. I run ML170 at 1.1g pressure, on Technics ti-armed sl1200mk4 TT. ML170 is mounted on AT MS9 head-shell, which utilizes additional rubber strip on top for dampening resonances.