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

On my Linn LP12 I have a Grado AEON 3 cartridge and can recommend quite highly. The only cartridge I would consider replacing it with would be it's next level up, the Grado EPOCH 3.

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Well looks like my two options are an MP500 (we will see what the 700 looks like) or an appropriate Soundsmith if I find one. 

 

I still think a modern HOMC might be an option, as the ones I have heard did not have the rising top end that many of the vintage ones were known to have.