Suggestions for cartridge, just fancy a change of flavour

Dear @chakster : That listed 9000 in no way is overpriced and no not even five MM/MI can performs as the 9000.

Yes, years ago I started the MM/MI thread and yes I was exited and even J.Carr and I had some hot dialogues there because I told him the reasons of the MM/MI superiority ( what I experienced with. ) and one of those reasons was: lower distortion levels and he posted that LOMC cartridges has way lower distortions but I insisted to him that he was wrong.

Through the years I learned ( everyone has the rigth to learns. ) that J.Carr was in that special regards: spot on and in all what he shared with all of us.

Obviously you as any one of us have to learn of several audio subjects and cartridges is one of them as tonearms or tubes too.

So what?, so nothing . Name of the audio game always is knowledge/ignorance levels along each one habilities to learn and to have a positive/willing attitude to learn and don't stay sticky all the time.

Have fun.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

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?

Dear @chakster : As I told you don't have any idea. The Shelter 9000 is something that you have to listen and different to the OP 501.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

I listen to lots of rock, ECM label stuff, acoustic and female vocal - Beth Orton, Joni Mitchell, Aimee Mann, Aretha, Imelda May - and went from a Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood to a Soundsmith Zephyr (original model) a few years back and really liked it. It was a step up in my system. After about 3 years I got the Zephyr MIMC Star (another improvement) and am running that now. I have the original at Soundsmith now being retipped. I have not had much experience with different carts - but am satisfied with the moving iron in my system and for my varied music taste. Soundsmith website shows their commitment to their craft. 

@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? 

Thank you everybody so far for the great suggestions

I agree with Raul....+1

Dear @chakster :

""  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). ...The very best MM are neutrail like the AT-ML170 for example. Hard to beat by any MC. ""

You almost have no idea ( exactly as me a few years ago. ) on what is the qualty bass performance levels. It's the other way around on what you posted: no single MM can beats/outperfoms any of those ( and many other LOMC cartridges. ) cartridges in those links.

R.

Dear @uberwaltz: These are great with any kind of music:



https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis8h79c-shelter-9000-cartridge-cartridges

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis8h0c8-van-den-hul-the-colibri-xgp-brand-new-never-mounted-cartr...

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis8h547-dynavector-drt-xv-1s-mc-phono-cartridge-cartridges


Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

I have a Shelter 901 and like it. Probably similar to the 501.

You should listen to an EMT. Great cartridge.

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.