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low tracking force cartridge recommendations?

hey, i'm new here (and also relatively new to the audiophile analog world), so i could really use some advice on my "new" turntable, which will very likely end up being a Dual 1019. from all of my research and speaking with people, it would seem to me that Dual recommended using cartridges that have a low tracking force. my understanding of that is limited, but i do have some idea of what that means.

being my first turntable in many many years, i am not looking to spend a fortune on cartridges - i figured i could spend $100 to $200 at most, and have found many that fall into that price range. some have recommended an Ortofon Super OM 30 to me, others pointing towards a Shure M97 XE. the repair shop that is looking over the turntable was saying a decent Audio-Technica might just be the best route... there are so many choices that my head is spinning.

one thing i did learn is that i apparently should be using a Moving Magnet cartridge since I will be using this table through a Bellari VP129 pre-amp, which I also just purchased.

i will primarily be listening to jazz and old rock records on this unit on a not-particularly hi-fi setup, though having the tube preamp was important to me since i'd love to hear stuff through my Grado SR 125's.

so, knowing all of that, what sort of cartridges would you recommend? i'd be thrilled to find something for $50 that sounds good and won't harm my records, but as i said, would be willing to spend a bit more if that will get me something significantly better.

thank you!
tethead
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
05-02-08: Tethead
thanks, i guess i just wanted "safe" because of the age of my turntable. with so many things that can go wrong with a 40 year old unit, i'd like to keep things as simple (and original) as possible really...
That's also a reason I recommended the Grado. The replacement stylii for the current Prestige series are also Grado's factory-recommended replacement stylii for some of the Grado cartridges from the '70s, so I figured it'd also be a period-correct solution. I doubt that the "Grado hum" was a problem back then, because by far most mid-fi turntables (BSR, Grado, Dual) were idler drive powering a machined aluminum platter. Grado was the ubiquitous giveaway cartridge back then, so if there had been a hum problem Grado would have never gotten the huge market share they had back then.

Also, since the Grado Prestige line traces its heritage back to about the same time as the Dual 1019, I figured it would be a good match in compliance and output. Rated output is 5mV, which should fit perfectly with your Bellari.

I hadn't heard that the Ortofon OM series is discontinued, but I was wondering if they would. With the new 2M series they now have 2 or 3 MM lines covering the same price and performance range. The reviews of the new 2M line are overwhelmingly positive, from the $99 Red all the way to the $599 Black. If you go that direction, there's probably not much reason to go beyond the entry-level Red or at most the nude-stylus Blue. This new series has a really high output, like 5.5 to 6.5 mV, which should make even the Bellari relax.

The Denon DL-110 and 160 I mentioned are a little too low in output for the Bellari.
glrickaby
19 posts
 
While I agree with Mark on the Shure, a Shure M91 or M95
will sound similar to the V15 III (though without the III
suspension) and can be had for $25 or so on ebay. The
Dual 1000 series is pretty long in the tooth and very hard
to get parts for. Move up to the 1200 series whenever you
can.
tethead OP
10 posts
 
i actually have a 1209 that came with the 1019. currently non-functional, but i'm going to get it evaluated soon. the 1019 i'm actually picking up from the repair shop for the first time today, so i'll be spending the rest of my day enjoying some quality vinyl (i hope!).

transporting about 60 blocks in my car in Manhattan, do you think i should leave the old stylus on the mounted cartridge for the ride, and putting on the new stylus at home (which i've never done, but can assume it's pretty straight-forward), or have the shop put it on for me? i think i'm best driving with a dull needle!!
redtop
20 posts
 
Stay as far away from a shure v 15 as you can.
A m 91 or m 95 sound better.
A cheap grado will sound better.
Id get a at 440mla.Especialy if i had dull sounding tweeters.
markd51
763 posts
 
Redtop, would you care to ponder a guess, as to how many V-15's were sold by Shure?

There was good reason as to why they were so popular, they were back then a very tough Cartridge to beat, and a good example can still hold it's own today.

Problem is, with any Cartridge, there's too many variables, and of course too many mixed experiences with any one piece of gear.

For any Cartridge made, there will be proponents, and of course detractors. I've seen it here even with top of the line ZYX, Dynas, Koetsu's, you name it.

The Shure V-15 was not junk as you make it out to be, particularly the V-15 Type III. Thousands of happy owners prooved that, and this Cartridge is still sought after 30 years later. Just look to that famous auction site. One day you might happen to watch, as a NOS V-15 goes into bidding wars to acquire.

Besides having a good Cartridge, with good Stylus, everything else down the line can make, or break a Cartridge's sound.

No, I'm not going to try BS'ing anybody that the V-15 is some magical end all, and will compare to a $7400 ZYX UNIverse, that would be ludicrous. Mark
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