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 1 response by glennewdick

Don't rule out the entry level Soundmith moving iron carts I've had good results with the ottelo on a second table. compliance check to be sure first. 

I believe you'll get better sound with a fix cantilever than a replaceable one.  When you can get the cart rebuilt for 20% (soundsmith's case)  of the new cost its worth considering for the improvement in sound over a replicable cantilever cart. 

Otello | Soundsmith (sound-smith.com)
only $100 to rebuild, 2 year warranty too. 

I use it instead of a Denon 103 MC, I find the Ottelo MI  better in most respects. Specially detail retrieval, excellent for a conical.