Need some help picking my first MC Cartridge


I have recently purchased an Icon PS1 Mk II tube Phono Preamp. and was thinking of purchasing a seperate MC cartridge and head to interchange with my Nagoaka MP 300 MM cartridge, which I am very happy with. This is my first MC Cartridge so this is more of a chance to compare MC versus MM Cartridges. Some suggestions have been Denon 103 or the Hana Red, The Icon Preamp has a fixed MC load setting of 100 ohms. The Sansui SR 525 Direct Drive Turntable that I will be using has an interchangeable cartridge head, so VTA height, tracking weight, anti-skating adjustments may be required for each cartridge but should not take more than 20 minutes to adjust. I have read that some low output cartridges may be preferable to high output, but I am not sure how this matches up with the Icon Preamp. I am a little in the weeds here with the technical information when it comes to cartridges so be gentle.

My listening preference is more to the musical / warm vinyl side. Gear: Tube preamp, Class "A" amp , alternating with a tube Integrated, Wilson Benesch Square 2 Speakers, Rel Subs (x2). I split my listening about 50/50 Vinyl/Digital.

My Budget is up to $1500.00

128x128pooch2

Showing 1 response by kahlenz

The Hana ML is a good choice.  I have an SL but I am running it into 1kohm (100 is too low).  The ML should be fine.
My concern is the tonearm on the Sansui.  It would be a bit course for the very low ohm LOMC carts; you'll just have to see how well it works with the ML.
Don't give up on MM carts! At your price level (and considering the limitations of your table) there are some remarkable options (Grado, SoundSmith, AT, Ortofon to name a few). I have a MoFi Master Tracker which kills (kind of fits the high-end AT profile)!  Lately, I have been seduced by Grado and especially SoundSmith.  Your phono pre will probably have more synergy with MMs as well.  There's a certain warmth and smoothness in MM carts that gets into the tube gestalt.