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New Cartridge Suggestions

Help.  I’m way too new to ferret thru the myriad of cartridges. I received a George Warren turn table in Feb.  It has a Denon DL-110 on it. I’m getting a new Jolida JD-9 for Christmas because my Denon AVR-4806 doesn’t quite cut it & seems to leave a veil over some of the music.

The little neighbor kid started playing with the tt & bent the stylus.  As I read, the cost to replace the stylus is a wash because something needs to be rebuilt before a stylus can be out on.  So, I might as well replace it.

I don’t know of any places north of Chicago to audition new cartridges.  My budget is very stretched at $500-I expected to only be getting to the phono preamp.  
1) Does anyone know of a place in N/NW Chicago or suburbs to shop a cartridge?
2) is there anything on Audiogon that people would recommend?

I tend to like things a tad bright.
Please don’t critique what I have or give suggestions to replace X & Y & Z.

Thank you again for your guidance.
tochsii

Showing 3 responses by chakster

chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Hanna buyers should watch factory tour first.
Does not look very impressive, expecially their test equipment with destroyed Victor tonearm. Also their products they made before returned to the cartridge manufacturing business. Excel Sound - the manufacturer of Hanna, made so many cartridges for various different brands in the 70’s and in the 80’s, one of the best was mid 80’s Argent with Boron, Sapphire and Diamond cantilevers.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Ignore all those MC cartridges, you will have to re-tip them every 700 hrs. Watch Peter Ledermann lecture first (jump to 24:00, he will explain everything), then think about MM or MI cartridges with replacement styli.

Pickering XSV-3000 with Stereohedron stylus is perfect and lower than your budget, normally $300-400 (depends on condition). And a brother of the Pickering XSV-3000 is Stanton 881s, just read this.  
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@mmorrison55 

I don’t quite understand your post. Are you for or against the Hanna carts? It was that video that got me looking into the Hana line and they are at the top of my list when I buy my TT as I understand they are hard to beat for the money. 
 
Not against Hanna, but i'm quite familiar with the best Excel Sound cartridges, including the OEM models this company made in the late '80s.
And while the Hanna is their budget line, the Etsuro Urushi MC is their premium line. I have a cartridge from the '80s which they just copied to make Etsuro Urushi nowadays. In my opinion Hanna is also just a copy of average carts they made in the '80s. I don't understand a hype about Hanna cartridges. They are affordable which is good! But there are many amazing vintage cartridges for the same price (mm, mi or mc). Back in the days Excel Sound made all SAEC cartridges. 

P.S. Mr.Fremer's Excel Sound factory tour does not impress me much, sorry. 
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