marantz 6350q turntable budget cartridge?


Hi all... Is there a replacement cartridge & stylus that would be a meaningful and sensible upgrade in sound for under $75? And, must i have it professionally installed/aligned if i'm not able to do it myself?

I just scored a nice working and looking marantz 6350q turntable for $40 as replacement for my pioneer pl-530 with a "motivational" issue. It sounds nice and i think the bass is clearer/rounder/warmer but the trebble seems a bit brassy/brash/harsh compared to what i was used to despite using the same el-cheapo shure cartrige, stylus and the pioneer headshell??? I thought the cartridge & stylus basically was the main influence on the sound of a middle-of-the-line TT like this, assuming speed, wow & rumble are all in check. However, I'm no audiophile, just a record and music lover, and most of my records are $1-$5 60's/70's jazz, rock, soul, funk, country & blues ranging from pretty beat up but plays to VG/VG+ and I do clean and brush them before playing. my receiver is a 2004 Yamaha Natural Sound RX 396 if that matters.

Thanks all for any responses, advise, suggestions, etc...
terrapin70

Showing 3 responses by johnnyb53

I worked sales at an audio store in the mid-'70s and we carried the Marantz 6300 as one of our main demo turntables. The 6350q looks to be a slightly later, improved version. We used a Fidelity Research MC cart on that 'table, but I also recall that the high level Grados of that era (e.g., Z2+ or whatever) sounded particularly good on it. The modern equivalent would be a Grado Prestige Silver or Gold. Since that's out of your budget, then it would be the Grado Prestige Blue, which is a notch above the Green, both in terms of cartridge and stylus.

You should also get good results with the Ortofon's latest iteration of moving magnet cartridges--the 2M Red. It also has a high compliance to match the arms of the '70s and '80s, and by most accounts is a significant improvement over the OM series.
Ed, I don't think the entry-level turntables you mention are an improvement over the Marantz, they just sound different. The Marantz will beat all the turntables you mention in speed accuracy and consistency. The virtues of a one-piece straight tonearm over an S-curve with removable headshell are overblown as well.
Good points, Ed.

I just hate to see him sacrifice the Marantz for one of the entry-level MDF turntables. I do agree that better electronics would be an improvement.

It'd be nice if he could Terrapin 70 could spring for an Onkyo A-9555 integrated. I like it better than the similarly priced Brit-designed integrated's. More power and current, subterranean noise floor, and a very nice MM phono section to boot.

Terrrapin70, what are your current speakers?