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Oracle, Alphason and what Cartridge?

After 16 years (long story), I unpacked my Oracle Premier and Alphason HR-100MCS and looking to buy a cartridge.
Two questions, I hope you can help me with:
1. Alphason's owner manual has no mention of effective mass. CartridgeDB lists it as 8.5 g, but I've seen online 11 g few times and 13.5 g once. Anybody knows?
2. Oracle and Alphason have in my opinion similar sonic signatures - transparent, fast and airy (little light). What cartridge would put some meat on front end's skinny bones? I'm thinking used $1,000 or little over.
mak358

Showing 1 response by alonski

alonski
158 posts
 
On my HR100MCS I use a gem of a cartridge designed by Mark Levinson... remember the Madrigal Carnegie One? Incredibly open and airy, but also a bit light in the bottom if the VTA is not dead on.

What also really helps low end response is vibration damping. My Alphason Sonata turntable's heavy suspension makes the low end of this cartridge so real and natural. So whatever you choose, play with the VTA and consider some of the new damping platforms you can put under your table.
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