Definitely a new cartridge, it’s much better to have several cartridges to understand what do you like in your system. If you’re looking for a brand new cart then forget the MC if you’re not willing to spend $1500+ on it and remember that Denon 103 has conical tip (the cheapest profile ever) and your tonearm is not designed for such a low compliance cartridge! I would advice to check Garrott P77i or higher models from this respected Australian manufacturer, those models comes with advanced profiles (Micro Scanner II and Frits Gyger). However, the prices are not cheap (in Australian Dollars) and on the vintage market you can find better solution, especially if you will look for Audio-Technica AT20SLa, AT-ML170 or 180, Victor X-1 or X-1II or Stanton 881 or 981 (those rare models are superior compared to very expensive MC carts) and the stylus profile is Shibata / Micro Line / Stereohedron. Amazing MM cdartridges in my opinion, and still 3 times cheaper than any good MC. These cartridges will put your 2M Black in the dust. |
do you have your speakers set up properly and a listening position that is in relationship to the speakers and the room? if you are truly new to the 2-channel audio game then you should research this area and begin there,
the reason I ask is that the tube box is a very good phono preamp and can deliver an exceptional, large sound stage that should sound much better than the internal stage on your amplifier.
the 2M black is an OK cartridge and can be beat by a good MC but I don't believe you have the flexibility in your internal phono preamp to properly load or add the appropriate gain. you should have kept the tube box. |
Out of the cartridges that you listed I would go for the OC nine. However as a previous poster has already mentioned I don't believe it will work well with your Tonearm. |
Keep the cart. I'd get the speed control for your table first. Damn fine table but the speed control is mandatory. Your speakers are 93db efficient and with that I'd say go integrated tube amp w/ phono. The Primare btw was way too polite in my system.
|
Tube phono. Keep cartridge. |
Well, the cartridge change everything even if you’re using average headphones, this is the most important component in analog chain and the only one in contact with the record, if you don’t like the sound from the start you can not really change it that much by any other components. I don’t think you’re going to swap phono stages or speakers every month. The most economy way is to change cartridge and it does change the sound of everything. Some carts are just not involving at all, some are amazing and that’as the reason we are buying many of them. Having at leasts 3 different phono stages and various tonearms/turntables i’m pretty sure the cartridge is much more important when we’re looking for "our sound". This is where the magic begin.
With the tube phono stage you must be very careful with the tube itself, i do not use tupe phono, but i use tube amp and nothing can beat NOS military vintage tubes, for some reason they are just better than new. What you can change in addition is the tube! I'm a big fan of Sylvania and Telefunken from the 60s.
But anyway, the cartridge is the most important to start with. |
Thanks for amazing insights and support!I think I'll test some other cartridges from my dealer first, and then - will see... :) |
@chakster You keep telling everyone the cartridge is the most important. It isn't. The turntable and arm are critical to the correct functioning of the cartridge. An excellent table and arm with a cheaper cartridge will beat out a great cartridge in a weak table and or arm. |
Hi Manfredas - I have the same turntable as you. I had a 2M Black and now am running a HOMC, the Sumiko Evo III which, subjectively to me, sounds a whole lot better.
I'm running mine into a Schiit Mani preamp that is separately powered by an upgraded linear power supply.
Nice setup and reasonably priced for the quality of sound that it puts out.
Since you have the SB version of your table, you don't need the speed control as suggested by an earlier poster since your setup has it built in.
BTW - Not at all surprised that you weren't happy with the Project Tube box - I've yet to come across anyone that's liked them.
Greg |
@noromance You keep telling everyone the cartridge is the most important. It isn’t. The turntable and arm are critical to the correct functioning of the cartridge. An excellent table and arm with a cheaper cartridge will beat out a great cartridge in a weak table and or arm. This is buils***t, i have various tunrtables such as Luxman PD-444, Victor TT-101 (working), Technics SP-10mk2, Technics SP20 and Technics SL1200mk2. The average cartridge does not sounds better on my Reed 3P "12 tonearm on SP10mk2, even if i will put the top class cartridge on relatively cheap Technics SL1200mk2 the most noticeable difference in sound is the cartridge if we’re using the same phono stage. The difference between cheap conical cartridge and any advanced design is so huge. I’m not trying to say that toneam quality is not important, but if we’re comparing two direct drive tables the better cartridge sounds better anyway (even if it’s mounted on cheaper tonearm). When i put AT-ART2000 Ltd on stock technics arm of SL1200mk2 it will sounds much better than conical denon DL-107 on Reed-3P "12 tonearm on SP10mk2 turntable for example (i remember it quite well). And Technics EPC-205c mk4 cartridge sounds amazing even on SL1200mk2 stock arm, compared to some average cartridge on tonearm with 5000 euro price tag. Of cource the great cartridge on great tonearm is even better (no doubt). I have enough cartridges to say that. But i’m not sure what you’re calling "weak turntable", if it’s complete junk then maybe, but i gave you an example, the price difference is huge, but still the cartridge is the most important if it is matched well with the arm of no matter price (for example the stock sl1200mk2 arm cost $150 - is that junk?). |
Man, I'd suggest you either upgrade your phono stage or move sideways to a cart with a different flavor. Spending more on a cart at this stage I suspect would be a waste of money.
I'm running a 2M black myself. I had previously thought of it as bright and uninvolving, including mounted on the VPI Classic I used to own. On my new set-up, it sounds compelling. (I asked Jeff Catalano of High Water Sound for a budget cart to hold me over after buying the TW Acustic table and arm and selling my VPI/Soundsmith rig; I protested about the Ortofon, but he was absolutely right.)
That said, the 2M black is a very "truthful" cart, with no romance of its own. That's why I'd say upgrade the phono stage (and eventually the amp) to something with more soul, or swap out the 2M for something in the same price range but with a different flavor. The ATs you list are great, but not very far away from the Ortofon house sound -- of what your dealer offers, the Grados and Nagoakas would give you something very different IMO. (I can't advise on compatibility with your tonearm, that said.)
One final thought: especially when it comes to cartridges, I'd be suspicious of any categorical statements in these forums along the lines of "the SonicBombast 2000 will leave that Lothario Audio Don Juan XXX in the dust." There are simply too many variables at play.
|
Not sure what the issue was with your original setup. I have the exact same setup...Pro-Ject 6 Perspex SB, Ortofon 2M Black, and Pro-Ject Tube box DS2. Through my setup this combination sounds amazing and creates a nice 3D sound stage. I will say this combination is sensitive to setup and not setup correctly does not sound as good. The other thing is the quality of vinyl is also very important. If the vinyl is not great quality I swap the stylus out for a 2M Bronze that helps hide the imperfections.
I'm considering and researching an MC cartridge with the Tube Box DS2 is fully capable of handling with the settings available. But I'm not jumping yet because a high end MC can probably outperform what my setup can deliver and then it's a never ending cycle to start upgrading everything...
|
You are playing with a level of gear where upgrades are limited by everything else in the setup.
Start from scratch, open your wallet much wider.
Other than that, trying a LOMC can give a markedly different experience your ears may prefer.
AT OC9/33 series is a good choice for the money.
|
