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Cartridge Upgrade for NAD 533

Hi Everyone!

Have a Music Hall MMF-9 at home with which I am very happy. It has the Goldring Eroica cartridge and I have it hooked up to a Jolida J9 tube preamp.

Got a used NAD 533 as a second table for work. It is hooked up to a Bellari VP129 which feeds into an Onix Sp-3 integrated tube amp. The arm is the RB250 that comes with Rega tables and the current cartridge is a Grado Black.

Can you suggest a cartridge upgrade that would improve the sound? My speakers are Advent classics (large). I'd be willing to spend about $200.00.

Thanks in advance.
catama

Showing 2 responses by gadfly

gadfly's avatar
gadfly
194 posts
 
I had an NAD 533 for a while. I modded the hell out of it. While the DL-160 was a good mate the 2M Red and Black beat it in solid presence, tone, and impact. The DL-160 sounded twangy and thin to me after having the Red and Black. Really can't get back into the 160 now.

It is as if the 2M carts were made for the rb250.

I saw in your earlier post you are going for the 2M so I thought I would throw a supportive boost in there.
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gadfly's avatar
gadfly
194 posts
 
Catama,

I used a glass platter which really made a nice difference.
I wound up using a thick rubber mat with cork dots.

After the mods I had rid the table of the WoW issues it had.
It also had a far better bass presentation and much better impact.

The final best 'mod' was the Ortofon Black.
I had the Red first. Really, the sound was better presented with the Black but I could have lived happily with the Red. The Blue has a nude stylus which is a better choice than the bonded Red.

I am sure you are going to like it.

reference: http://home.comcast.net/~omaille/audio/morgue/NAD533/NAD533.html
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