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Moving Iron Carts or stick with LOMC

I've been thinking off adding as second arm to my table ( Garrard 301 as seen in my system pictures) the second arm will be for my High compliance VDH Cart so I'll have an open spot on my Jelco 750L 12" tone arm. SO I'm thinking of trying out a moving iron (MI) cart. 

Phono stage is Gold Note PH 10 so all the settings I will ever need for just about any cart. 

 I'm looking for recommendations for carts in the $500-$2000 range as I know little about MI carts as far as owning one or hearing one. I suppose the big question is, is it worth trying, i'm sure there will be people on both sides, but what got me interested was a write up about the Grado reference v2 MI cart and I like how they described the sound as midrange centric, I have all the detail I need on my VDH I'm looking for a little more romance so to speak with my second cart. 

What stylus types work best on MI carts? I've always like a VDH stylus and found the conical a little dead sounding (Denon 103 for example). 

As for Vintage I have no issues with going older lets keep this in the easily obtainable realm though. 

Grado reference v2 at $1500 and the Soundsmith Carmen Mk2 $1000 ( on sale right now for $700) are two that caught my eye so far both have interesting price and reviews. 

Well of course I could be going totally down the wrong path so feel free to knock me back on track if that's what I need. 

Glen (one N) 

glennewdick

Showing 1 response by mijostyn

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Hi Glenn, you can't go wrong with either cartridge. I am more familiar with the Grado. To call it midrange centric is a mistake. It is one of the best balanced cartridges on the market and tracks like a bandit. In being so balanced nothing hangs out. It is neither bass heavy or bright which some people use to some MC cartridges may be expecting. 
A lot of people here like the Soundsmith cartridges. Unfortunately I can not speak with experience about them. I love the cactus spine gig though and I'm sure I will try one eventually. 

Mike
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