Many years ago I used (and actually still have it) a Benz Micro Wood H2 HOMC. I didn't really find it better than the Shure V15vxMR that preceded it, and moved on to a Ruby 3 instead. That one is still in use, albeit converted to mono.
High Performance Moving Iron Cartridge Candidates?
I have decided to simplify my analog set up a bit. removed the fussy cartridges and SUT's, and am down to one external phono stage, and the internal one in my Trinov preamp.
The Trinov preamp is MM only, and I don;t want to use a step up or headamp with it. So that means high output moving coil or a MM type cartridge.
I read on these boards that a MI cartridge can have lower moving mass than a moving coil I would like to experiment.
What are the viable candidates these days? I imagine most vintage ones do not have OEM styli available still. The Soundsmith ones are interesting, but get very spendy. This is meant to be a casual cartridge for me, but I will spend some money on it. Just not Air Tight or Koetsu money.
What are other choices? Not typically fond of Grado I heard in the past. Otherwise I think Nagaoka is the only other one I know of?
Showing 3 responses by dogberry
Three candidates: 1. Nagaoka MP-500 (3mV output), perhaps the best in terms of quality/price 2. London Decca Reference (5mV), more expensive but stunning liveliness. 3. Soundsmith The Voice (2.12mV). Now I haven't heard this, but it's the best of their high output MI cartridges, unless you special order a Helios at the same price as a Hyperion. I do have a Sussurro and a Hyperion, and I'm delighted with them. |
My understanding is that Peter has someone who works with him on the high end cartridges, presumably so that one day they can continue the work. I have not asked Peter that directly (an excess of delicacy on my part), but I have heard that from a dealer. With cartridges like the strain gauge and the Hyperion (with its cactus spine) one is dependent on SS for future service. Those with more conventional builds could be serviced by the usual suspects. @neonknight I hear you about the Grados. I have a Statement 3 that sits unused. I can't say there's anything wrong with it, but it doesn't excite me. The MP-500 I discovered when I was concerned that the Deccas would no longer be serviced with John Wright's retirement, and it comes close to the Decca sound and liveliness. Initially I didn't hit it off with the Sussurro, but with some very careful attention to VTA it suddenly came to life and impressed me enough that I moved up to the Hyperion, which is better still. I rather hate to say it, but it is better and more engaging than the the Decca. I never thought I'd say that. If you can stretch to one of the Soundsmiths I think they can outperform the MP-500, but as I say I haven't heard one of the high ouput SS cartridges. PL himself says he only makes low output versions because the market demands them to use with expensive MC phono stages, and he implies that if it weren't for that he'd stick with the high outputs. |