Suggestions for cartridge, just fancy a change of flavour


Present cartridge is Shelter 501 mk3
Mounted on Nottingham Analog Spacedeck with standard Spacearm
Going through Gold Note PH-10 phono
Into Lyngdorf 2170
Wilson Witt series speakers.

Again absolutely nothing wrong with the Shelter but it came with the TT and have never heard any other on this setup and would at least like to consider a change.

My vinyl collection consists of mostly rock recordings from 70,s and up.

Budget? $1500 to $2000, not adversed to low hour used.

And no I am not looking for suggestions to change the phono stage, arm, TT or anything else just other peoples actual cartridge experiences.

I would say I have about 250 hours on my Shelter and it came with the TT so unsure of TRUE full hours, I use Lyra fluid on it regular and vinyl is cleaned by US .
uberwaltz

Showing 3 responses by chakster

In my opinion you need an MM or MI cartridge for rock music if you want real slam and killer bass. Look for vintage MM from the same era (70s/80s). It’s been said they are closer to the mastertape. The very best MM are neutrail like the AT-ML170 for example. Hard to beat by any MC. Most of my vinyl are from the 70s too, i’ve tried multiply samples of the AT-ML170 and all of them are fine, but i ended up with AT-ML180 PCOCC. I have a perfectly working spare of my AT-ML170. You can also search on audiogon for users feedbacks about AT-ML170 or AT-ML180 cartridges posted before 2016. 
@rauliruegas you are comparing $1900-2100 MC cartridges to absolutely neutrial $750-800 MM with replacement stylus (boron, microline). The OP already has Shelter MC and looking for something else, guess why? Alternatives? 
Raul, I don’t care about Shelter 9000 or similar overpriced MC cartridges, i have owned some of the best of them (brand new). I found vintage MM from the 70s/80s highly competitive for much lower cost (with amazing sound quality)! I don’t care if you prefer digital to analog. Or MC to MM, only several years ago your own statement was against the MC or at least "a great alternative to MC". Now your statement is totally opposite. You’re looking for perfection and audiophile’s life is a constant search for something. But i prefer to stay on something good, i use both mc and mm, and i know which MM cartridges are superb and not so expensive compared to 3-4k Lomc. For the price of one Shelter averyone can try 3 different MM with the best specs, materials (cantilever, stylus, coil wire etc). So what?