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Need help with MM cartridge choice

I've stumbled across a good deal on a Rega Planar 3 fitted with a Grace G-747 that looks to be an excellent choice for my second / MM table.  It has an old ADC on it that almost certainly needs a new stylus and I was never very fond of the ADC sound to begin with.  I've had good luck with B&O, Ortofon, Grace, Empire and Shure, but everything except Ortofon is ancient history now.

This table would be used for vinyl that can't really benefit from being spun on the Sota.  Think fair-to-good condition second-hand albums cleaned ultrasonically with minor visible scuffs that have seen a lot of play.  I prefer a neutral tone balance with flat frequency response.  Specs in the tonearm manual are pretty thin; 4 to 10 gram standard cartridge weight and nothing more.

Presuming the table & arm meet the mechanical, operating and geometry inspections when I go back tomorrow, I'd like some suggestions on an appropriate modern-era cartridge match.  I'd like to keep the investment ~$300 and definitely want something for which replacement styli are still made.  For those of you who haven't seen my posts before or checked my system page, I run a McIntosh C50 with a MC302 amp into Rogers Studio 1 speakers.  My primary table is a Sota Sapphire with a Graham Phantom Supreme and a DV XX2 MkII.

Thanks for your consideration and I look forward to your replies!

effischer

Showing 3 responses by chakster

chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
I’ve stumbled across a good deal on a Rega Planar 3 fitted with a Grace G-747 that looks to be an excellent choice for my second / MM table. It has an old ADC on it that almost certainly needs a new stylus and I was never very fond of the ADC sound to begin with. I’ve had good luck with B&O, Ortofon, Grace, Empire and Shure, but everything except Ortofon is ancient history now.

Replacement styli for Grace F9 are available from SoundSmith and all you need is a Grace cartridge body if you don’t have one.

I prefer original Grace styli and not even F9 cartridge body (I prefer F14 and LEVEL II), but Grace F9 is one of those inexpensive vintage MM cartridges anyone can buy today without a fear of unobtainable styli. SoundSmith styli always an option (when they are available).

I still have NOS (factory sealed) original Grace styli for F9, F14 and LEVEL II.

However, your $300 budget is too low for a good MM cartridge or even for a replacement stylus alone, you have to double your budget and then you can find really good MM cartridges with advanced styli.



chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
I’ve stumbled across a good deal on a Rega Planar 3 fitted with a Grace G-747 that looks to be an excellent choice for my second / MM table.


If you have Grace tonearm the best inexpensive cartridge for this arm is Grace F9 (or F8 Custom), think about it. They are made for each other.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
People recommended SoundSmith cartridges made by Peter Ledermann (aka retipper on this forum). I asked Peter (SoundSmith) about vintage cartridges in this thread (quote below). You will see Grace in his list.



Me: 

I’m curious, what is a well designed MM/MI or MC from the past (not new) in your opinion ?

Peter Ledermann:

Obviously Strain Gauge designs, although none have survived well, which is why I don’t work on them. Early Fairchild Stereo units. Some still are fantastic. Stax, for its cleverness, Dynavector 23 and similar, due to low mass (but terribly fragile), some Ortofon MI designs, Grace, and of course the B&O, upon which my line has evolved from. I have to say that as a person, VDH has befriended me from the beginning, and upon meeting and seeing my work, asked me "Are we competitors, or colleagues?"

I said it would be an honor to be considered a colleague; so he said "GOOT!" and shook my hand heartily and said - "What ever you need - always call me!" I have never taken him up on that, but I am always warmly welcomed by him whenever we happen to meet. The generous invitation was more than I needed or deserved. Indeed a gentleman and innovator, at a minimum. There is much to the man.

Peter Ledermann


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