MC Cartridge Ideas


I'am looking to get a low output cartridge and need your advise and recommendations on which ones to research.
The Price Range is $2000-$4000.
The Sound I'am after is excellent detail retrieval (match digital) with pin point and spatial imaging and most important of all Huge Bass (sub bass slam and low extension)

I know its a hard question as most will recommend one or the other as audiophile we don't necessary keep swapping cartridges, but may be you are an audio dealer - Ideally you would be selling 20-50 cartridges and a few in my price range. Based on my Sound Characteristics you might be able to say Cartridge A is $2500 and surpassed Cartridge B at $4500 in the area of detail retrieval but not with Sound stage.

That's sort of what I'am hoping to achieve from this exercise, some in depth advise.
As with everyone I would like to keep the spend low but really go to the upper extreme its definitely worth it compared to the offerings at the opposite end.
128x128kunalraiker
For high resolution modern sound
Usual suspects:

Lyra
ZYX
Shelter
VdH
Ortofon

or

Dynavector
Phasemation
Benz

there are more ... 

but how anyone can tell you what you will like ?

Also you did not tell us what's your tonearm and phonostage ? 



My present go-to recommendation for cartridge questions, is to call Soundsmith with your system info and budget, and listen very carefully. You will get a quality US made product with a reasonable stylus replacement cost and spectacular imaging.
For high resolution modern sound
Usual suspects:

Lyra
ZYX
Shelter
VdH
Ortofon

or

Dynavector
Phasemation
Benz

there are more ...

but how anyone can tell you what you will like ?

Also you did not tell us what's your tonearm and phonostage ?
The Phonostage is Parasound JC3 and The Tonearm is Opera Consonance T1288
http://www.opera-consonance.com/products/tonearm/T988_T1288.htm
My present go-to recommendation for cartridge questions, is to call Soundsmith with your system info and budget, and listen very carefully. You will get a quality US made product with a reasonable stylus
replacement cost and spectacular imaging.
I will ask Soundsmoth, but would prefer something Japanese.
I recently acquired a Lyra Kleos and it checks all your boxes.  I'm blown away by it.  American designed...Japanese built.  Squarely within your budget.

I recently acquired a Lyra Kleos and it checks all your boxes. I'm blown away by it. American designed...Japanese built.
Squarely within your budget.
What did you upgrade from?
Also what other cartridges were you researching at the time.

 Ok have been offered the Kleos SL for a good price from a dealer but haven’t decided.
Also being offered the Dynavector Kiatora.
I had both a DV XX-2 MKII and Hana ML before getting the Lyra Kleos. The Lyra was a massive upgrade from both.  I really bought it opportunistically as I tripped over a really good deal and pulled the trigger quickly.  I wasn't truly looking at the time.  Somewhat impulsive but no regrets.
The Ortofon Windfeld Ti should be on your list.  It comes as close to your “digital retrieval” as any cartridge I have ever owned.  Currently in rotation with a Kiseki Purpleheart and Koetsu RSP.  

The Ortofon Windfeld Ti should be on your list.  It comes as close to your “digital retrieval” as any cartridge I have ever owned.  Currently in rotation with a Kiseki
Purpleheart and Koetsu RSP.  

What’s you opinion of the Purplehead and Koetsu?
I will ask Soundsmoth, but would prefer something Japanese.

Well then, I am truly happy with my Koetsu Black Goldline. The sound in my current system is to die for. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367
Right in your budget range. Maybe even well below it if you do like me and find someone with a killer deal. Then if you trick it out with fo.Q tape, TC, PHT and ECT like in the pics, man you will for sure think you died and went to heaven.

To be more technically precise about it, there are no cartridges available new or used that will touch a Koetsu Black Goldline tricked out with all the above tweaks. None. En oh en eee. You could pay full retail for the Koetsu, plus the other stuff, you would be right at about $3200. Probably nothing under $10k in that league. Take it to the bank. Sign it. Cash it. Spend the money.

Looking at your Opera Tonearm i think you can use a wide range of cartridges, but please make sure about effective mass of the tonearm, as i can see you can even swap the arm tube (longer is for lower compliance cartridges). There is a Dynavector KARAT on the image from tonearm manufacturer, this model with very short diamond cantilever must be excellent! I have DV KARAT-17D2 mkII , even previous model was great, i also tried 23RS Ruby and was very impressed. They are not very expensive. Maybe you can ask tonearm manufacturer why he decided to use Dynavector for advertising his tonearm online.  

Looking at your Opera Tonearm i think you
can use a wide range of cartridges, but please make sure about effective mass of the tonearm, as i can see you can even swap the arm tube (longer is for lower compliance cartridges). There is a Dynavector KARAT on the image from tonearm manufacturer, this model with very short diamond cantilever must be excellent! I have DV KARAT-17D2 mkII , even previous model was great, i also tried 23RS Ruby and was very impressed. They are not very expensive. Maybe you can ask tonearm manufacturer why he decided to use Dynavector for advertising his tonearm online.  

I actually bought the turntable with the 17D3 Karat, but the cantilever broke a few years back.
It was an awesome combo and then I got the xx2 which improved on the bass.

Time to get a new cartridge.
@Kunalraiker

The Koetsu RSP is absolutely beautiful in its presentation but its strength is in the midrange.  It provides more of a musical immersion than a digital like reproduction.  The Purpleheart is one of the most emotionally engaging cartridges I have owned.  Again not as crystalline a musical producer as the Windfeld Ti, but I have found myself so enthralled with some pieces I have ended quite a few album sides almost holding my breath as the music’s emotions peaked.  Each has a roll to play in my system.  Both of these are twice as difficult to mount and optimize their set up due to stylus location compared to the Ortofon IMO.
I actually bought the turntable with the 17D3 Karat, but the cantilever broke a few years back. It was an awesome combo and then I got the xx2 which improved on the bass. Time to get a new cartridge.

I see, new cartridge is always good idea. Compliance for KARAT series is 15cu but most likely measured at 100Hz like all Japanese carts?

If it was measured at 100Hz then when we convert it to 10Hz is will be about 27cu. 

For example Koetsu Black compliance is 5cu @ 100Hz (about 8.5 @ 10Hz) and this is very low, another heavier arm tube must be used for such low compliance cartridges. 

Here is more about tonearm/cartridge resonance

 


“My present go-to recommendation for cartridge questions, is to call Soundsmith with your system info and budget, and listen very carefully. You will get a quality US made product with a reasonable stylus replacement cost and spectacular imaging.”

Highly suggest this recommendation. Some really good suggestions such as Benz, but higher end Benz models unobtainium so to speak. What you want is a cartridge with a wide frequency response and if you want a digital equivalency I would suggest mid output or high output which due to their higher output allows you to use a wider range of phono amps.
My present go-to recommendation for cartridge questions, is to call Soundsmith with your system info and budget, and listen very carefully. You will get a quality US made product with a reasonable stylus replacement cost and spectacular imaging.

@oldears
Peter at SoundSmith is recommending to avoid any MC cartridges in his lectures, none of his own cartridges are MC.

His cartridges are Moving Iron, but the OP is asking for LOMC
SS carts are definitely the best in terms of service, this is great, but they are not the best cartridges in the world.

I will ask Soundsmoth, but would prefer something Japanese.

That’s right, Japanese is the way to go.

Before you will ask Peter at SoundSmith please watch his lecture.
Most likely Peter’s the answer will be SoundSmith cartridge as he’s not a consultant in choosing cartridges from some other manufacturers for anyone.





I would try a Current injection phono stage . I have a LYRA Clavis Decapo and a BMC MMC1 phono stage it rivals and in some ways surpasses my digital front end  
I would try a Current injection phono stage .

I am very impressed by the 47Labs Phono Cube current injection type phono stage with my FR-7fz cartridge.

Which one do you have ?
Dear @kunalraiker : These could be very good oprtions for what you are looking for:

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa0380-ortofon-winfeld-ti-mc-new-cartridges

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis99edf-ortofon-anna-mc-as-new-cartridges

Btw, you can wait a little time to appears the Dyna XV-1s that second hand is in your price range and I'm with the Kleos too.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
Hi,
try to find a good deal on cartridges near to the top of your budget from
ZYX, LYRA, DYNAVECTOR.
try to find a good deal on cartridges near to the top of your budget from
ZYX, LYRA, DYNAVECTOR.
I believe this is the best advise to take.
As previously mentioned phasemation might be a good idea, however  *if* your arm can really swing a 20g low compliance cart pm me ;)
Of course (and this is obvious) investing in top pressings will be required as well !
As previously mentioned phasemation might be a good idea, however *if* your arm can really swing a 20g low compliance cart pm me ;)
Of course (and this is obvious) investing in top pressings will be required
as well !
I only use Audiophile pressings, I cannot use a 20 gram cartridge, the highest I can use is 15 grams.
I ordered the Lyra Kleos SL from a local dealer.
Thanks All for your valuable advise.