Highly recommend you give Peter Ledermann a call at Soundsmith. Incredibly knowledgeable, and just the man to consult about your best options.
Time for a new cartridge.
I will need a new cartridge by this winter, but I now have some time on my hands to take the time to do a new cart setup so am looking. I have a Audio Technica AT33RTG/II it is my first LOMC. I really like it and is a good price point for me I think I paid $525 for it. Part of me says just get another one and part of me says I like the rest of my system so this is a chance to change something try something new. Any suggestions around this price? I can go back to MM. My Music Hall turntable came with the Mojo cart which is made by Ortofon, I like the AT better. I listen in a 12 x 22 living room. I listen to mostly jazz, some bluegrass and folk. Thanks.
Music Hall 7.1
Primare R32
Schiit Freya with Electro Harmonix tubes
Bel Canto Ref500M
Kef reference 203/2
Blue Jean cables
Music Hall 7.1
Primare R32
Schiit Freya with Electro Harmonix tubes
Bel Canto Ref500M
Kef reference 203/2
Blue Jean cables
2 responses Add your response
I can go back to MM. My Music Hall turntable came with the Mojo cart which is made by Ortofon, I like the AT better. Definitely go back to MM and find yourself something better than your AT LOMC, it's pretty easy. The best Moving Magnet cartridges designed when this technology was on its peak (in the late 70's - early 80's). nowadays MM is entry level format and only a few manufacturers taking care of them, the business model is to sell overpriced LOMC. You have mentioned Audio-Technica and this is a great brand with long history, they never try to charge too much for great cartridges. But you can easily add another 15 manufacturers in the wish list for best MM if you will expand your interest and will look for New Old Stock items from the golden era. This is where amazing MM cartridges can be found withing $400-700 budget today (unused or in mint condition). This is what i've been buying myself for a long time with great success. So many great discoveries, shockingly good sound even when i compare those vintage MM to much more expensive vintage MC. Very interesting process! I always recommend this article when someone asking for MM, see why industry professionals, who actually working on disc mastering and cutting, prefer Moving Magnet over Moving Coil. Some names: Stanton SC-100 WOS, Pickering XSV5000, Pioneer PC-1000 mkII, Grace LEVEL II, Grace F14, Garrott P77, Audio-Technica AT-ML170, Victor X-1II and X-1IIe ... those are real killers! |