Help choosing a new cartridge

Interesting thing about my AT150MLX: The more I've improved the components downstream, the better it's revealed the AT150MLX's goodness, and hasn't introduced any of its limitations, whatever they might theoretically be.

Audio Technica indeed might be a good choice. I'm listening to my OC-9 right now and for the money - well within your price range - it sounds pretty darned good.

08-25-08: Jaybo
ditch the notion of mc, and get an AT 150...spend the balance on records.

I'm glad somebody else said it first. I looooove my AT150MLX and have no intention/desire to upgrade it for a long time. It just gives me everything I want, nothing of what I don't want, and if I wear it out, stylus replacement is an affordable $179.

At $500, you could get the AT150MLX for $250, totally not worry about matching output strength to the phono stage, and have enough left over to get 25 sealed Original Jazz Classics re-issues from Acoustic Sounds.

It's difficult to find a moving coil in that price range, you usually have to spend more on those. However, some of the finest MM cartridges can be had for that price, or near there. I would suggest you go that route.

Well, if you apply the following formula:

rf = 159 / sqrt((7.7+.5+cw)*cu))

where cw = cartridge weight and cu = compliance
you should ideally get an rf (resonant frequency) number between 9 and 11.

7.7 is the effective mass of the JMW9 standard arm. .5 is the approximate weight of the mounting screws (if you know the exact weight of the mounting screws, use it instead).

So, if you plug in the values of a couple of cartridges:

Dynavector DV20XH - 8.6g cw , 12 cu, rf = 11.19
Benz Ace - 8.8g cw, 15 cu, rf= 9.93
Shelter 501 - 8.1g cw, 9 cu, rf=13.14

So, for the JMW9 standard arm, the Benz Ace is the best match. The Dynavector would still work fine, but not as well (rf between 8 and 12 is considered ok. between 9 and 11 even better). The Shelter would not be a good match.

Hope this helps.

Tom

I have the standard, not the signature, arm. What does that mean for what cartridges I can use?

Do you have the JMW9 standard or signature model? The JMW9 standard has an effective mass of 7.7g and the signature model's effective mass is 9.5g. Makes a big difference in terms of cartridge compatibility.

I had a Shelter 501 mk2 on a MM7 running through an EAR834P and this was great sounding. Then I traded up to a Lyra Argo i and the sound improved considerably; the Lyra is a much better tracker. How about a Dorion? Also I used to enjoy a Benz Glider M2 on a VPI HW19 with good results. A little more than $500 perhaps but these will make your table and phono pre shine. The load on the 834P is fixed at 500 Ohms.

ditch the notion of mc, and get an AT 150...spend the balance on records.

Thanks Islandmandan, I've been reading through that thread on the MintLP and it does seem like a worthwhile purchase.

On the cartridge, I see a lot of people like the Dynavectors on VPI tables. I could probably swing a DV20XL, but I'm wondering if it will match well with my phono pre?

Hello Sinister,
You might consider something in the Dynavector line, a DV10X5, DV20XL, or used DV17D3. For an even bigger improvement, order a MintLP arc protractor, (now $110), and find out how your analog front end is supposed to really sound.
Check out the thread on MintLP, you might decide that should be your next purchase instead of a new cartridge.

Good luck, and enjoy,

Dan