Highest detail cartridges

Here is a short list of oustanding MM cartridges:
Audio-Technica AT-ML180 OCC
Victor X-1II
Technics EPC-100c MK4
Technics EPC-205c mk4
Stanton CS-100 WOS
Pioneer PC-1000 mkII
Grace LEVEL II MR/BR
Grace F-14 Ruby
Glanz MFG-61

Here is the short list of MC cartridges that i like a lot:
Victor MC-1
Fidelity-Research FR-7fz and FR-7f
Klipsch MCZ-10 Ruby
Dynavector KARAT 23RS MR
Dynavector KARAT 17DS MR
Ortofon MC-2000

All cartridges are from the golden age of analog, reasonably priced today on the used market.

@nandric

Lucky me I do recognise all other carts

you mentioned otherwise I would belong to the ’’category’’

of ’’ignorant’’. Will you be so kind to ’’explain’’ this choice ?

You know, i managed to find working Victor MC-1 and i must say this is a very special cartridge, now i want to try more Direct Coupled models made by Victor (if i will find working samples). Your broken sample is a donor for another one which i wish to ship to SoundSmith. When the printed coil is right above the cantilever and very close to the stylus tip the sound is "so real". I use this cart on my Sony PUA-7 tonearm with brand new Signal Cable Silver Sesolution (that i bought by advice of Don) with Xhadow RCA we have soldered few days ago, JLTi phono stage.

We both know how good is the FR-7f and especially the FR-7fz. 

My MM list is a top list after a years of studying as you noticed. The AT-ML180 OCC is unbeatable (long time favorite). The Grace LEVEL II and F-14 are superb with Ruby, BR/MR (Boron/MicroRidge) or Beryllium (I also have Ceramic cantilever, but never tried it yet). The Pioneer PC-1000 mkII and Stanton CS-100 WOS are close to each other, the difference is that Pioneer has Beryllium cantilever and Elliptical tip, but Stanton WOS has special sapphire coated cantilever (looks like Ruby) and Stereohedron II tip (and optional brush infront of the cantilever). Both carts are very musical and it’s a pure joy to listen to the music with them. Pioneer PC-1000 mkII is top of the line model made for Pioneer Exclussive series of turntables, this cartridge is very rare! Someone notice that a tonearm that comes with Pioneer Exclussive was made by Micro Seiki and very close to the Micro Seiki MAX series (even the way it looks). Pioneer PC-1000 mkII was designed for this top of the line Pioneer tonearm.

The AT-ML180 ans Stanton WOS are the champs in detail retrival, because of the very nice styli (MicroLine and Stereohedron) very low tip mass etc. Grace is also amazing in this aspect (Boron Cantilever and MicroRidge tip) but even higher in compliance. Victor X-1II with Shibata/Beryllium is also gian killer MM cartridge. You owned the Galnz 61 if i remember correct. And you know Technics which is problematic when it comes to the damper, so in my opinion the AT-ML180 OCC is much better than Technics 205 mk4.

Talking about the "Highest detail cartridges" everyone should look at the specs first (frequency response), for example Stanton SC-100 WOS can do as wide as 10Hz - 50kHz, Audio-Technica AT-ML180 can do 5Hz - 42kHz, Technics claimed 5Hz - 100kHz for 205c mk4 with Effective Moving Mass of the tip = 0,109 mg.
Try to find ANY moving coil or moving magnet / moving iron than can do the same.

Mr.Carr is right, but the topic is about "Highest detail cartridges" and i think there is a strong relation between frequency range, stylus profile, cantilever materials (and the whole design). But no one, i believe, can call a rolled-off cartridge a "Highest detail cartridges", right?

It is not necessary that a person will like "Highest detail cartridges" more that some amazing cartridges like big and heavy low compliance the FR-7fz for example.

I have all of them and i can compare them, the MM cartridges i have mentioned are the "Highest detail cartridges" for sure ! I do not speak about cartridges that i have never tried @bpoletti The list of vintage MM cartridges is the list of the "Highest detail cartridges" for your topic.

@jcarr Denon DL-1000 has an effective tip mass 0.077 mg, but Technics top of the line MM cartridge (EPC 100c mk4) has an effective tip mass of about 0.056 mg (the world lowest tip mass?) and if it’s not the one of the "Highest detail cartridges" you can kill me.

I like the Victor MC-1 for another reason, it's just getting me closer to the music. I was very impressed by this Direct Couple desing, look at the pictures of its structure http://audio-heritage.jp/VICTOR/etc/mc-1.html The coil is just above the cantilever and very close to the stylus tip. This is unique design. That was the inspiration for designers of brand new Audio-Technica ART-1000 https://youtu.be/PaoA4ZuGlOw

@lewm  My Moving Iron reference cartridge (Joseph Grado Signature XTZ) can't beat the AT-ML180 OCC or Grace LEVEL II LC-OFC with BR/MR stylus.

Technics 205c mk4 is an excellent cartridge (never tried 100c mk4, but owned 100c mk3), in terms of detail retrival those cartridges are oustanding! Why? I just tried to add some facts such as extremely wide and flat frequency response and the lowest moving mass.

At the same time the Technics cartridges are the most problematic because of the weak damper. 

"Highest detail cartridges" are not necessary the most musical or the most involving cartridges. ZYX Airy III or ZYX Premium 4D SB are great in detail retrival, but not the most involving carts (but surely very expensive). 

Moving Magnet cartridges from my list are highly competitive with any MC cartridges i have owned, but the cost of those vintage MM is 3-5 time lower than MC equivalents. I would recomment you to try any of them, especially the AT-ML180 OCC. 

At the same time i like my Fidelity-Research FR-7 series (f and fz), this is very musical cartridge with body and soul.  

 



  

@bimasta

"Is "closer to the music" a more accurate reproduction of what is in the groove or a "romantic" rewrite?"

It is more involving reproduction of music on vinyl media. May be caused by synergy of the arm + cartridge and all components. The moment when you’re there with a smile on your face, when everything is damn good.

Victor Direct Couple MC-1 is very dynamic cartridge in my system.
I was aware of the sweetness of Shibata profile on Beryllium cantilever, becuase i have tried many Victor MM cartridges before. But i think Direct Couple principle is something special in this MC design. Never tried Decca or Ikeda cantilever-less models.

@lewm

I know you like your Grado XTZ, but given its age, it is probably not advisable to take its performance as a paradigm for all other MI or IM types. (I think those Grados are more properly thought of as IM [Induced Magnet], like my Acutex LPM320 and M320.) My own Grado TLZ ain’t what it used to be. You also mentioned ZYX cartridges as being detailed; I would agree.

My Grado was NOS, never used before, and has maybe 20hrs on it now, but it’s the same age as the AT-ML180 OCC and almost the same age as my all favorite vintage cartridges. Most of them are from the mid or late 80s. I do not use any new cartridges anymore, because none of them impressed me much and i will rather continue my search of the reasonably priced vintage rarities than will buy any overpriced new MC, MI, MM of today.

Grace ASAKURA ONE waiting my audition, that was top of the line MC cartridge, signature model of the founder of Grace (Asakura-San) from the 80s with Boron cantilever.

Never tried this ugly looking Acutex cartridges with extremely high compliance, but i doubt it can beat Audio-Technica AT-ML180 OCC with so many unique features in its design, the AT-ML180 goes for $1.5k easily on ebay nowadays, it’s more expensive than ART9. I remember Raul sweared on those Astatic MF100 and MF200 which are in fact mediocre cartridges compared to Glanz MFG-61. "Cartridge of the month flavour" has faded away.

My memory is not that good, i'm sure it will be impossible for me to remember in 2048 how good or bad was one of my cartridges in 2018. 

But what i know for sure is that some of the best cartridges does not get old and still circulated between collectors and audiophiles. People who're looking for fidelity buying 30-40 yeard old cartridges because of the sound quality. FR-7fz does not get old, because it has sealed suspension which never fails. 

Maybe i will find the Acutex, one of them is on ebay now, but i don't like the design of this cartridge, reminds me cheap Ortofon OM series. 

@believehifi

Then there is Top Wing which has introduced a brand new tech that is called "Coreless Straight Flux" and is a MM with a low output MC like characteristics. This is the new king of the cartridges IMO.

This concept was introduced back in the days by Waltr O. Stanton in the 70s. Look for the Stanton 981LZ and 981LZ mkII (Stereohedron stylus tip), it was low impedance, extremely low output MM cartridge, it must be used with MC phono stage with recommended load above 100 ohm, but this is a Moving Magnet cartridge.

https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14390804_1371396666211830_332642431291632005_n.jpg?_nc...

SPECIFICATIONS for the 980LZS:
Stylus Type: Nude Stereohedron Contact Radii: .0028 (71u)
Scanning Radii: .0003 (8u)
Stylus Tracking Force: 1 gram (+/- 0.5)
Setting with Brush: 2 gram (+/- 0.5) resulting operation tracking force 1 gram (+/- 0.5)
Frequency Response: 10 Hz to 50 kHz +Output: .06 mv /cm/sec
Channel Balance: Within 1 dB @ 1kHz
Channel Separation: 35 dB @ 1kHzCartridge
DC Resistance: 3. ohms
Cartridge Inductance: 1.mH
Cartridge Color: Chrome
*Cartridge Weight: 5.5 grams (*Brush weight self supporting 1 gram)
Load Resistance: 100 ohms or greater
Load Capacitance: 1000 pF, or less (incl. arm leads cable and amp.)

BTW I owned that low output Stanton 980LZS, but my current Stanton SC-100 W.O.S. with higher output is better.

I know that "Coreless straight flux" is something new, but the idea of making low impedance / low output MM to use with MC phono stage is not new.

@believehifi
I am familiar with Excel Sound cartridges, the Etsuro Urushi looks very close to my Argent MC110 that was made in the 80’s by Excel Sound in Japan. There was also Argent Ruby and Argent Diamond version of the same cartridge (the difference is cantilever). I have 3 different Argent cartridges. Only Argent MC110 reminds me Etsuro Urushi, except for the lacquer finishing. I believe that Etsuro Urushi is nothing new, but just the updated version of the old Excel Sound top of the line cartridge from the 80’s, but for x10 price.