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Cartridge upgrade for vintage TT - MM or MC?

I have a Technics SL-D202 that currently has a Sumiko Pearl on it, which is OK but I don't totally love it. The midrange is nice but the treble in particular is lacking. Compared to my digital source it sounds dull and lifeless and therefore I hardly use it.

My question is, would it be at all worth it to upgrade the cartridge or should I just wait until I can upgrade the TT totally?  I am considering the Schiit Sol in the future if they ever get it back on the market but my wife really likes the automatic function of our current table so I may be stuck with it or something similar at least for now.

I had considered trying a lower-end MC cartridge and seeing how that sounds but any other recommendations would be appreciated.

I use a Schiit Mani pre which can be adjusted for any cart (or so I'm told).  

The table came stock with a AT-71E and I also tried a Shure MX97e but neither of those really wow'ed me.
elangley01

Showing 6 responses by elangley01

elangley01 OP
93 posts
 
Well i don't necessarily want it to sound digital, but i would like it to have some sparkle to it. 

My other option is to wait a bit and see about upgrading to a new TT like a Pro-Ject DC or some other similar priced "audiophile" TT. 

Or is the vintage table I have now always going to be better? Adjusted for inflation the prices are in the same ballpark, but is vintage direct drive just inherently superior to new belt drive in the same range? 
elangley01 OP
93 posts
 
Those carts you mentioned, are they vintage? I don't really see any available anywhere.

What about something like the AT VM540ML? 

I was also looking at the Grado Silver/Gold or the Otofon 2M blue in the same price range. 

It's difficult to know which one my ears will like better not being able to audition them with my setup. 
elangley01 OP
93 posts
 
So here's something interesting. In my search for new TTs in the same price range I came across some good reviews of the Fluance reference series.

The RT82 ships with the Otofon OM 10 and lists the following specs:
Tonearm effective weight: 28.2g
Headshell weight: 10g
Cartridge weight: 5g
Cartridge compliance: 20

Just for giggles I put these into a resonant frequency calculator and got 5.4 (!)

That can't be right, can it? Am I missing something?
elangley01 OP
93 posts
 
I have submitted a technical inquiry with Fluance to have them explain their cartridge matching to me.

Maybe they just don't think resonant frequency is a big deal? The agent I spoke with said the specs are correct.
elangley01 OP
93 posts
 
Understood. 

Yeah I like what I've read about both the AT and Orotfons in that price range.  I also saw an excellent review of the Nagaoko MP-150 which I think would also meet my needs although I saw something else that said it's worth it to just get the MP-200 which is out of my range at the moment.
elangley01 OP
93 posts
 
@ roberjerman What do you make of this review of the Grado Gold? I notice he didn't review the Silver2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8Wl6PUtBho
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