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MM Cartridge Recommendation

Hello Everyone, 
Over the past year I've been slowly building up my first system and have just recently upgraded my turntable to a Clearaudio Concept w/ Satisfy Carbon arm.  

My current total system is as follows:
- Belles Aria [Integrated w/ MM phono] 
- B&W 705 [original series from 2004 stand mounts w/ matching stands]
- Clearaudio Concept w/ Satisfy Carbon tonearm 
- Ortofon 2M Black MM cartridge 

Overall I've been very happy with my system especially working within a reasonable budget.  
The Clearaudio has also been a great upgrade from my original entry level [U-Turn Orbit] turntable. 
I bought it used with the 2M Black already mounted, and it is very smooth/neutral sounding with a lot of detail. 
However, at times I find it almost too neutral.

Would anyone have recommendations on another MM cartridge to pair with my existing system?
I'm still trying to determine if I may like another sound better [perhaps more warmth or even just comparison for a different sound] as I explore and still learn what sounds I like. 

I know many people prefer MC, however at this time I do not want to add a MC phono preamp to my system.   
I'd consider HOMC [ie Hana cartridge] but I'm not sure if they would work within my exiting Belles Aria MM system?

My budget is ~$800. 
My preference is to buy new however would consider an easily accessible used [I just don't want to have to search for some obscure hard to find cartridge].  

Also please keep in mind that I am still new to this hobby so am by no means an expert in cartridge setup & alignment. 

Any advice or feedback is really appreciated! 

Thanks! 

 

dsjs4

Showing 2 responses by pingvin

pingvin
46 posts
 
A couple of thoughts:

First, do you have another well-known source (say, digital). If the system is still not sufficiently warm for your taste, and you have tried the free stuff (speaker and seat placements, room tuning with furnishings and rugs, etc), then it’s not the source. I personally have found every B&W I have heard somewhat sterile, but I haven’t heard the 705. 

Then, on cartridges: I’ve run a 2M Black for five years now. It was meant as a temporary cartridge while I saved for something “better”, but on a my table and arm I haven’t been persuaded to change. The stylus profile means that set-up is, well, fussy.  (Thankfully I can adjust VTA precisely.) It’s unforgiving of unclean records. And I hated it when I heard it demo’d on my previous table and arm — go figure. 

So I can understand curiosity to change. Before spending any money on what is a bit of a crapshoot, have you listened to the audio files of the MM comparison (including the 2M Black) that Michael Fremer ran on his site a few years back?

Good luck with your quest — Ping


pingvin
46 posts
 
I agree that the 2M LvB is an intriguing offering. It lacks the upper mid-bass hump of the standard 2M Black (which I speculate is because of the relatively heavy aluminium stylus) and is even more “neutral” (forgive the abuse of meaning). On that basis, I doubt that the OP would be satisfied. I’d suggest, as has others, that he try one of the cheaper Grados or Nagoakas to get a feel for their house sound and navigate from there. (FWIW, my own pick would be the Soundsmith Carmen, which I owned and feel is more musically enjoyable than the notionally superior Zephyr that followed.)
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