Recommendation for Cartridge for Technics SL-1200G?

BTW, Van Den Hul cartridges work well with the 1200G. DDT2 Special and the upper tier cartridges all work well. I would change the headshell. 

I love vtglife's response! Best laugh I had today! Thank you! LOL!!!!

When I upgrade my cartridge next, I’m thinking of a SoundSmith Zephyr for my GR then when I upgrade to a G, I’ll have the cartridge department taken care of

Use your dam ears. If it sounds good, and the arm is close enough as far as weight to match up kwth something relatively high compliance, you're fine. For christ sake 

Hey, you can use nearly ALL moving magnet and moving iron cartridges on this Technics tonearm, what’s the problem, will you ask for every cartridge ? Don’t use low compliance MC and do not use extremely high compliance MM/MI. Medium or Medium High compliance is what you need. Technics stock shell is light weight, with lower compliance you need a headshell of higher mass and probably Technics subweight for the other side of the arm. Read this and make sure you know your cartridge compliance at 10Hz, not at 100Hz, to make the calculation. Mid compliance MC can be good too. For such expensive turntable you might need something special, not those Nagaoka cartridges, but something much better! 

bump

Technics challenges the resonance frequency theory by mounting a Phasemation PP2000 cart when demonstrating the new decks and tonearms.

Have anyone tried Nagaoka MP500 with the SL1200G? Is this a compatible cartridge with the magnesium tone arm?

I’ve seen I’ve seen a few recommendations for the Ortofon Cadenza Bronze on the 1200g

I have this exact combo and it's a really great match, the Bronze is still breaking in but I have zero complaints on the sound quality.

I have never heard the Bronze but I never could seem to warm up to the Ortofon sound.  If I change my cartridge on the SL1200G, I am going with the Dynavector X20L cartridge

This is a review of two carts that I am considering...

https://6moons.com/audioreviews2/soundsmith/1.html

I’ve seen I’ve seen a few recommendations for the Ortofon Cadenza Bronze on the 1200g

this gives
m 22.7g compliance 12cu and thus 9.6Hz resonant frequency, the best I have calculated so far.

Dhjohnson if you are getting 8hz via the calculator then I’m afraid you are using the wrong compliance measurement. The 18 figure quoted in the specs is at 100hz. To get this to 10hz you need to multiply by 1.7 giving 30.6cu and a resonant frequency if 6.33 hz

This is a long way from the ideal 9-10hz.

these are indeed a guide and it would be more accurate to measure using a test record. Has anyone done that with the Art9 on the 1200g???

I’d be amazed if the resonant frequency calculator was out by 50% !!!!

it may be possible to make it play but I remain to be convinced that it is a good match. 

It is my understanding is the effective mass for the SL--1200G tonearm is 12g with headshell included.  In addition, these calculators that are available online are strictly approximations at best. It is always best to measure the tonearm/cartridge resonance using proven methods.

Definitely with stock Technics headshell, i agree

And it is much better to use actual Test Record to measure (and to see) resonance than any online calculator which can give you the idea, but not exactly precise measurements.  

It is my understanding is the effective mass for the SL--1200G tonearm is 12g with headshell included.   In addition, these calculators that are available online are strictly approximations at best.  It is always best to measure the tonearm/cartridge resonance using proven methods.

Are you sure that the 12 gram mass of the Technics arm is without the headshell?
Here is another calculator!

http://www.mh-audio.nl/Calculators/RF.html
And another!
 https://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge_resonance_evaluator.php

Many SL-1200G owners are using the ART9 with outstanding results, me included.  When I plug the numbers in to the Calculator I get a value of 8Hz.  Close enough.

To calculate what is best there are two resources I have been using. First the Ortofon guide and chart here...
https://www.ortofon.com/support/support-hifi/resonance-frequency

The shows that resonant frequency should be between 7-12Hz is best idea being somewhere is the middle of this range.

For the Technics with an arm mass of 12g +a headshell which is likely to be 7-10g the arm mass will be in the range 19-22g 

This means that Compliance rating of 10, 15 and 20 are best suited (low to medium) 25 is marginal.


This calculator enables precise values of resonant frequency... http://www.resfreq.com/resonancecalculator.html

For this the target extremes are
19g - 7Hz - 27CU
22g - 12 Hz - 8CU

So this shows that between 8CU and 27CU depending on precise cartridge weight.
The optimum probably is 9-10Hz
19g at 9Hz gives 16.5 CU
22g at 10Hz gives 11.5 CU

Two real world example

Soundsmith Zephyr Star MMIC 
Compliance 10 µm/mN
weight 12.2g
On the Technics arm this gives a resonant frequency of 10.2Hz

A 2g heavier head shell would give 9.8Hz


Dynavector 10x5
Compliance 12, Wight 7.3g
On the Technics arm this gives a resonant frequency of 10.46Hz 

Both are good matches!

Michael Fremer said of the 1200G...

In case you were wondering if the arm was tailored for high compliance moving magnet cartridges, I can tell you that I used, among other cartridges, the Lyra Etna SL and when I measured the horizontal and vertical resonant frequencies using the Hi-Fi News test record, both measured between 8Hz-and 9Hz, which means yes, you can use the SL-1200G with your favorite low-medium compliance moving coil cartridges.
Read more at https://www.analogplanet.com/content/technics-direct-drive-sl-1200g-turntable#rGtlT7r6JxDUZRMg.99

I’m surprise that people are recommending the AT Art9 as it is a high compliance cartridge and when fitted to the Technics arm will give a resonant frequency of 6hz which is too low? 

Technics arm effective mass 12g 
Art9 weight 8.5g
Compliance 18x1.7 at 10hz

resonant frequency - 6.4hz

too Low! 

the Cadenze Bronze is excellent.

pickering xsv 3000

Also a low compliance cartridge on SL1200G is not a good idea

Agreed.
Since I mentioned 'lower compliance' in my post (I'm not saying @chakster was referring to my post) I want to clarify that the Sensitive Sound ART Dark cart is medium-low compliance and I was comparing it to the Audio Technica which is medium-high.

I have a ART9 I will be selling less than 100 hours. I like my Cadenza Bronze better on mu Triplanar

Two posters recommends cartridges with Conical Styli, this is to be honest the worst stylus profile on the planet, no matter on which cartridge. Conical tip has the shortest life-span and can't extract music from the record grooves. This profile must be avoided by anyone who is looking for high-resolution and accuracy. 

Also a low compliance cartridge on SL1200G is not a good idea, only with very heavy headshell and additional counterweight. 

Shure M44-7 has extremely high output, conical stylus for this cartridge is discontinued, it's much better to add Jico SAS on this cartridge. But the output is just too high!   

I use a ZU Dl103 Cartridge which was on my previous TT on my SL1200G.  Best sound I have ever had from vinyl. 

I  recommend Shure's M44-7, 97xe(the latest version) or v15 type V.

If you're looking for ART-9 make sure you're buyin' from the official distributor (not from grey market dealer), so you can get factory retip in Japan for very reasonable price when you will need it. 

In general for Technics tonearm you have many cartridges to choose from brand new to vintage heritage. From MM/MI to MC. 

Just don't buy a low compliance cartridges and don't buy very high compliance. 

I would recommend the Victor X-1II (Beryllium/Shibata) or its cheaper alternative X-1IIe (Titanium/Elliptical). Both are great, the stylus on Beryllium cantilever is better. Any of them in NOS condition worth the investment. Even if you will buy an MC it is nice to have an MM alternative to compare one to another. 

On LOMC side the Dynavector DV-17DS with Diamond cantilever and Micro Ridge diamond is great, the mkII version is even better. 

The ART9 is a really good cart. For a comparison or simply to experience it, I would gladly arrange for you to try a Sensitive Sound ART Dark cartridge (which I import and distribute). It is a little lower in compliance and perfect for the SL1200G. No obligation...

I'm in Seattle.