I don't know who the mystery rich guy is in Pindac's post, but he is entitled to his opinion of HOMC cartridges. I disagree. One caveat: some manufacturer's make the same cartridge in very low output and slightly low output versions. For example, Audio Technica make the ART series in forms that put out around 0.2V and around 0.5V. I would not categorize the higher output version in that case to be an "HOMC". I reserve the term for cartridges with output well above 1.0mV, enough to drive some MM stages. Those latter I have found to be deficient compared to LOMC, MM, or MI types. Just yet another opinion. My HOMC experience is limited to Sumiko, Benz, and Transfiguration. I've not heard a Dynavector HOMC in my home.
MM or HO MC Cartridge Choice-Input Please
Hello All. It’s time to (incrementally) update my phono chain to take advantage of the assumedly excellent phono stage in my Shindo Partager preamplifier. My table is a humble Rega 3 with the stock Elys2 MM cartridge. I am willing to invest $3K in upgrading the whole phono chain, and I would start off with the cartridge. I’ve gotten some suggestions in a prior thread, and am trying to choose between:
Dynavector 20X2 HO
Dynavector 10X5 HO
Clearaudio Virtuoso V2 Ebony
Hana SH (or EH or MH)
Benz ACE
I also thought about contacting Soundsmith and seeing what they would recommend. Finally, I should note I have a Quicksilver step-up transformer (SUT) and could always go to a LO MC cartridge. I’m just a bit worried that once I go to LO MC I might start second guessing the Quicksilver, feel that I need a better SUT, and then all my money goes into the cartridge and the SUT and I’ve got nothing leftover to upgrade the table. For that reason, does it make sense to stick with a MM cartridge? I would like to spend no more than $1000 on the cartridge.
Thanks in advance, Michael
Dynavector 20X2 HO
Dynavector 10X5 HO
Clearaudio Virtuoso V2 Ebony
Hana SH (or EH or MH)
Benz ACE
I also thought about contacting Soundsmith and seeing what they would recommend. Finally, I should note I have a Quicksilver step-up transformer (SUT) and could always go to a LO MC cartridge. I’m just a bit worried that once I go to LO MC I might start second guessing the Quicksilver, feel that I need a better SUT, and then all my money goes into the cartridge and the SUT and I’ve got nothing leftover to upgrade the table. For that reason, does it make sense to stick with a MM cartridge? I would like to spend no more than $1000 on the cartridge.
Thanks in advance, Michael