Elliott,
I “dipped my toe” into MC with the AT OC9XEN that hdm recommended. I’m really happy with it and recommend it for lower/mid level TTs. My TT is nothing special - Pro-ject Debut Carbon with the platter upgrade - and I was using an Ortofon 2M Blue that had good clarity and decent soundstage, but was harsh.
The OC9 made a big positive difference. Soundstage is larger with much greater depth, instrument/vocal imaging and separation are a big step up, and I gained a lot of warmth with slightly improved precision over the 2M Blue. The downside (if you can call it a downside) is that I now hear more rumble and noise from the Debut Carbon, so I’m looking to upgrade my TT after fitting the OC9. The cartridge improved the sound a lot, but also really brought out the TT’s limitations to my ears.
Best wishes!
Phasemonger
I “dipped my toe” into MC with the AT OC9XEN that hdm recommended. I’m really happy with it and recommend it for lower/mid level TTs. My TT is nothing special - Pro-ject Debut Carbon with the platter upgrade - and I was using an Ortofon 2M Blue that had good clarity and decent soundstage, but was harsh.
The OC9 made a big positive difference. Soundstage is larger with much greater depth, instrument/vocal imaging and separation are a big step up, and I gained a lot of warmth with slightly improved precision over the 2M Blue. The downside (if you can call it a downside) is that I now hear more rumble and noise from the Debut Carbon, so I’m looking to upgrade my TT after fitting the OC9. The cartridge improved the sound a lot, but also really brought out the TT’s limitations to my ears.
Best wishes!
Phasemonger