Turntable Cartridge upgrade question.

I answered that question several years ago, before covid: Benz Micro Glider SL (with a Musical Surroundings Nova III phono stage that developed a hiss several months prior to the warranty going out and Musical Surroundings refused to take it for examination/repair - mind blown. I could have shipped it but no guarantee they’d return it… I found a dealer who bought it for a YUGE loss), deciding on a Quadratic MC-1 SUT to match it.

SUT is “the way” for me at least, one less complex electronic noise box in the audio chain (YMMV all the snarksters here in Audiogonland).

I have other cartridges now (Ortofon Cadenza Black, Ortofon Verismo) I’ve played with, and I’ll admit the Verismo needs better resolving equipment than I’ve got right now but I’m awed by its performance compared to the others mentioned (and got a smoking hot deal on it like it fell off the truck).

For starters I can’t recommend the Benz highly enough.

TT: Thorens 125TD Mk II with Pat Pruitt electronics, ceramic ball bearing spindle (no rumble)

TA: SME V rebuilt by SME Canada (smooth. 1 M 33 awg Cardas Litz wire to SUT)

Preamp: APT Holman (recapped, “tuned” by Peter at Quirk Audio). One word on the APT: Transparent.

Amp: Tektron TK2 2A3/50-IS with EML 300b PT and 1944 vintage Tung-Sol 6F8G drivers, sometimes an ADCOM 545II (“rebuilt” with the help and guidance of Chris Hoppe of Hoppes Brain) when I want to shake the house with something like RAMMSTEIN or King Crimson’s RED.

Speakers: Klipsch Heresy IV’s (I’ve been a Klipsch fan since the early 1970’s, but auditioning others now)

Just a thought..

If you’re interested in getting more bass from your system you might try a tone control like the schiit lokius. They can make a significant improvement in tailoring the sound of your system to your liking and for a lot less than $1200. Best of luck in your quest. 👍

I went from a 2m black to quintet black. There was much improvement but didn’t leave me with that wow factor until I switched to the Hana ML. I would recommend you listen to the Hana if you can. You’re likely to be pleasantly surprised and it’s within your budget. My other table has the Linn Kandid, which may be 5x more expensive. I feel the Hana does very well relative to that cart too.

I'd also like to know what cheap 7k TT you're talking about. 

Specs, related to IMAGING.

I like everything about your existing cartridge’s specs (never heard one), including it’s low tracking weight.

EXCEPT, It has only 26db channel separation, and 1.0 db center channel balance.

Not everyone can hear subtle differences, and those differences come down to ’preferences’, not ’better’.

Everyone can hear/experience ’better’ imaging, not just the sense of overall width, but the distinction of individual instruments/voices anywhere l/c/r.

Excellent engineering is revealed to a greater extent.

All imaging is phantom, a tighter center balance 0.5 db and a wider separation say 30 db produces a far more involving experience.

The stiffness of the cantilever material is also an issue, prices go up along with stiffer material. Buying these days, I stop at BORON. Many 'better' cartridges are mounted on aluminum cantilevers these days. In the past I have had beryllium, crystals. I still have a Sumiko Talisman Sapphire Cantilever/Line Contact that I have convinced myself yields a speck more bass, the difference very very slight.

My choice for my 1st MC cartridge was/is AT-33PTG/II

This one, with Shibata on Boron fits your budget

always check the relationship of signal strength to coil impedance. some need individual settings for signal boost and impedance loading, requiring a more sophisticated/expensive phono stage.

regarding phono stage: buy from a source allowing return/full refund, it is the ultimate ’preferred’ not ’better’ device IMO.