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Choosing the right cartridge....

Looking for the right phono cartridge to compliment the incredible Herron VTPH-2. Sending to Keith to update to the "A" version soon!
My current cartridge is the AT-ML150/OCC. A wonderful piece back in the day. Today, I find it to be a bit analytical. Maybe it's my ears - maybe it's the gear. At the same time, I'm looking for a higher output cartridge, since the Moon 350P Line Stage pre-amp has low output.

Either MC or MM, what is the recommended cartridge for this specific setup? Looking for a crisp higher end and more pronounced midrange.
joyofsound

Showing 2 responses by mulveling

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,135 posts
 
Ortofon Cadenza Bronze is a great match to the VTPH-2A. Not nearly as analytical as the other top-range MC Ortofons to my ears - Ortofon calls the Bronze "warm", I call it "neutral". Excellent price/performance on that combo. Shelter carts can be good too.
mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,135 posts
 
Actually I’m a huge Koetsu fan; they’re absolutely my favorite cartridges. For me it just worked out that I keep Koetsus on the main rig with my VAC phono stage plus SUT, and the Ortofon/Shelter on the 2nd system with VTPH-2A. Yes, the Herron will do well with Koestu too - its MC stage is really good, but I still prefer MM mode plus a great SUT for Koetsu. Most Koetsus tend to price themselves well above the Herron, though - and at that point you’re "all in", and then I definitely prefer VAC as the partner. But a Black or Rosewood might make a perfect match with VTPH-2A for a reasonable budget (I just haven’t heard those models). Now that this suggestion was posted by a user, I have to join in endorsing it. 

Koetsus are not genre specific. I listen to a lot of hard rock and heavy metal (when it’s well recorded enough) with mine. Never heard anything do this material as well as a Koetsu. Analytical cartridge for metal? Yuck! :)

The Cadenza Bronze is the one Ortofon model that "gels" with me as a Koetsu lover. Their higher end cartridges strike me as too much like high-end digital. I also like the Shelters for this reason.
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