Replacing MM Cartridge suggestions phillips table


Fellow audiogoner's need your help. I've decided to plunge back into vinyl. Haven't played records in years so I need to replace my cartridge. I have a Philips 312 Electronic belt drive turntable. It tracks very well from .5 to 1.5 grams. Back in the day it competed (almost) with Thorens. I have a MA 2002E cartridge which I paid $250.00 for in the early 90's. My system is B&W N802, Wadia CDP with a crown amp and pre. I listen to jazz so hearing the full music spectrum is important, high-mids-lows. I've looked at a few manufactures but honestly I have no clue. Like every thing else there has been a big price increase over the years. How much do I need to spend in todays dollars to get the sound of a $200.00 dollar cartridge from the 90's? I've seen prices in the thousand dollar range, do you have to go that high to get a cartridge that matches the sound quality of a CD? I've been told that playing vinyl will make me forget my 200 plus cd collection. Thanks in advance I would particularly like to hear from jazz listners. Also do you think a 20 year old table that seems to play like it was new stacks up to whats available today or do I need to start over?
So if you have experience going from digital back to vinyl give me your recommendations on brands and price range.
walkelin

Showing 1 response by sean

Your system, pretty much from digital source to speakers, comes across as being on the brighter i.e. quick and lean side of neutral. If one were to carry this over into your cartridge selection, i would avoid Grado's and the Shure mentioned above. If looking for similar sonic traits in a cartridge, you might want to opt for something along the lines of an Ortofon "Super" OM series cartridge or possibly the Stanton 881S or an AT 440. All are suitable for your straight low to medium mass tonearm and have similar sonic traits to what you are used to. Sean
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