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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
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
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?
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
Keep the marantz great find and superior build to starter regas etc sell yammie and look 4 older nad or rotel intergrated these will have better phono stages some sensible sound advice on carts here
terrapin70 OP
1 posts
 
hi all... thanks for the responses!! first, about me and my system... i'm not picky and vintage style means almost as much to me as the sound... just want to be able to hear and feel the guys in the bands enough to enjoy the music and i need stuff that looks good in my 70's bachelore style pad. modern and expensive stuff doesn't interest me.

my speakers are KLH 900B 8 ohm 3-ways with 50-20,000 hz frequency response for use with 5-120 watt amps (per the label). i'm in a upstairs apartment in a quiet building and rarely rock out totally anymore with a few occasional exceptions. I am looking to replace them though, as well as the receiver... and, i just say this deal on craigslist and it kind of excites me:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/ele/1221285617.html

it's a 80-84(?) 60 watt JVC R-S77 Digital Synthesizer Stereo Receiver Super-A w/ killer looking 4-way jvc(?) mark V Speakers and it's local so i can hear it all first.

as for the cartridge... howard at audio specialist in studio city, ca suggested a $70 grado and offered to install & align it for $40. my main concern was that i had picked up a neat looking but poor sounding TT that no cartridge upgrade could fix.

Thanks to your comments i feel better about the TT choice and i think i'll go with the grado.
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
Vintage pioneer sx or marantz 2200 series or sherwood 7000 series
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