Back in The Days of Yore TAS rated the Grado FTE ($15) as the best buy in phono cartridges. My friend Les had one and raved about it! Grado as a business goes back to around 1960. They have always made excellent cartridges for the money at various price points. I have a Grado G1 mounted in an extra headshell to switch out with a Denon 103R on the Pioneer PLX1000 TT.
phono cartridge help
Hope everyone is doing good. It was a cold one here in NH Saturday, So I had some indoor time and was looking to replace my cartridge. My head started spinning with everything that came into play with compliance, Capacitance, stylus type, output voltage and my limited options.
What affect would I get going from an output of 5.5 to a 4.0 or to a 6.5mV?
Turntable is a fixed 20 vta am I stuck with a 20 vta cartridge?
Opinions on these:
Prestige 3 Series
Audio-Technica VM740ML (0.5 g over limit)
Nagaoka MP- 200
Goldring 1006 vta 24
With what I have now it is very limited to upgrades but I'm not ready to spend the money on a proper phono system, in 2 or 3 years.
I listen to Yes, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, Eddie money, steely dan, David Bowie, the Cars, Rickie Lee Jones, Traffic, the Who, Savoy Brown, Van Halen.
What I have:
I clean my records with an ultrasonic cleaner and anti-static brush, I would grade my records at vg/vg+
Fluance RT85 Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge (VTA not adjustable)
SUPPORTED CARTRIDGE WEIGHT0.18 – 0.25 oz (5.0 – 7.5 g)
COUNTERWEIGHT Yes – 3.60 oz (102 g)
EFFECTIVE TONEARM MASS 0.97 oz (27.5 g)
OVERHANG 0.76 inches (19.2 mm)
HEADSHELL MOUNTH-4 Bayonet Mount
Cartridge weight must be between 5.0 to 7.5 grams with a height of 18mm and 20° Vertical Tracking Angle.
YAQIN MS-23B
Tubes: 12AX7B × 2 (Voltage preamplifier)
Output Voltages: 0.5V (400Hz input/500mv)
Input Sensitivity: ≤4.0mV (400Hz, 0.5V output)
Cartridge Suitability: MM (Moving Magnet) cartridge.
Legacy Audio Signature SE speakers
Primaluna EVO400 (KT150)
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I gotta join in the chorus. Just buy the most expensive Grado that fits your budget. My Grados have always been unfussy. They've always delivered audio pleasure, with fine timbres, soundstaging and punch. They've always tracked good enough for me not to be driven insane wondering what record in my collection I should NOT play |
1st, get rid of the TT if you cannot adjust arm height. I recommend a TT with an arm with a removable headshell, much easier to mount a cartridge, and option for multiple headshells with alternate cartridges, i.e. MC; MM; Mono in he future if you get hooked on vinyl. Too many current ’affordable, well respected’ TT’s come with pre-mounted cartridges on a fixed arm. Simple to get started, especially for a novice, but kind of a dead end from my point of view. Initial cartridge is going to wear out, then what? IF MM with replaceable stylus, of course you can just change the stylus and keep going. No ’growth’ in that plan. |
Which cartridge? I always check for wide channel separation, and tight center balance, to provide superior imaging, before I check further. You probably know, others less experienced, good info here: https://www.sound-smith.com/options-cantilever-and-stylus-shapes an advanced stylus (microline, SAS, shibata, ...) what cantilever material? simply a question of budget: aluminum is not a real compromise, but more ridged is better, I wont go stiffer than Boron, beyond that, they not only go up in price, they are easier to break. |
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