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?
Another yes for Soundsmith. I got a new HOMI Zephyr MKlll for $1k. It has Line Contact stylus. Rides deeper in groove. HiFi Heaven had a sale plus they gave trade in credit of $100 for a couple old Ortofons that needed new stylus. I called Soundsmith for advice prior to purchase and the fellow connected me to owner Peter L which I didnt expect. Plan is to make this my last cart with the rebuild service. |
Some questions about Soundsmith. As I understand it earlier cartridge designs were built upon the B&O architecture. Is there some point the designs evolved past them? Are any of the current cartridges still based on them? One thought comes to mind. Soundsmith won't be around forever, or will at least transition at some point. I don't think we can bank on their rebuild costs model staying the same whenever things do change. Koetsu is a recent reminder of this. Grado is a cartridge I have never been fond of. Do the Nagoaka have a bit more sparkle and presence than them? |
I think PL was influenced to get into MI cartridge development and manufacture by his prior experience with top of the line B&O cartridges, like the MMC1 and the MMC20CL. So he first developed the SMMC line of SoundSmith cartridges, which he still sells. The SMMC cartridges are virtually copies of the B&O MMC series. And SS specialized in the repair of B&O cartridges early on. In my opinion, the MMC1 is one of the finest sounding cartridges ever made, so I very much understand why PL chose that path. As to whether the SMMC cartridges are structurally related to the Voice and its successors, which get ever more costly as you move up the line, is something only PL can say. But you could do worse than to go in that direction. As to longevity, none of us will be around forever, so buy what you like and forgeddaboudit. If the cartridges you leave behind are a significant fraction of your estate, you ought not to be dabbling in this area. Also only in my opinion, HOMC cartridges are the least good sounding of all types of cartridges that I have heard, and I have owned some purportedly very good ones. I’d much sooner own a Grace Ruby, even with the OEM elliptical cantilever, although the SS OCL stylus does take it up a few notches. |
Taken a look at Audio Technica ART9xi - not much iron to move, but a massive magnet structure, and SLC stylus profile. Simply wonderful sounding, and very high output: Apparently replaced by the ART20: https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/cartridges/line-series/art-series/at-art20
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