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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?

neonknight
lewm
13,462 posts
 

Nagaoka, B&O, Grado. High output MI will generally work with MM stage and require 47K ohms input.

drrsutliff
883 posts
 

Look the midlevel Soundsmith cartridges.  The Paua II can be acquired in the range of $1150 (most recent sale found with about 300 hours use).  Mine was rebuilt at 1200 hours of use after a review/recommendation by Peter at a cost of $550 and currently has about 350 hours.  An excellent path with reliable rebuilds.  A Hyperion is now my primary and has gone the same path. 

dogberry
748 posts
 

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.

nwres's avatar
nwres
257 posts
 

+1 Nagaoka MP-500. Rivals lots of spendy MC carts. Great tone, airy highs.

Also the Nagaoka JT-80BK Anniversary cart is very nice and a sleeper at it's price IME, nude elliptical and the boron cantilever. Smooth beautiful sound.

knotscott's avatar
knotscott
1,076 posts
 

+2 Nagoaka MP500

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