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Under $1,000 Cartridge for Aries 2 Extended

I've got an Aries 2 Extended with the JMS 12.7 arm, currently mounted with a Denon DL 103. I'm interested in getting a more capable phono cartridge, either MC or MM that would cost less than $1,000 new or used. I listen to classic rock, male and female vocals, jazz and classical music. My primary speakers are B&W 801 F's driven by several different tube or solid state pre-amplifier and amplifier combinations. I'd like a cartridge that throws a large soundstage and has a warmth and vibrancy to the presentation of the music. Any suggestions?
acrosonic
10 responses Add your response
sidssp
1,077 posts
 
FYI, a good place to buy DL-103R is amazon.com. One of its sellers, Yogi Computers, is selling it for $260 with free shipping. I bought one from it a few months ago. Highly recommended.
acrosonic OP
4 posts
 
Sidssp: I've got a DL-103, but I was thinking about moving up to the 103(R), as I like the 103 "sound".

Stanwal: I was hoping to hear from someone with a Denon 304; it's another of the Denon's that's within my price range.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
I had that table with the SMF and SDS and found the Denon 304 very good, better than the 103 which I was also using. Denon has an even better cartridge in the 8 to 9 hundred $ range I haven't tried.
nolitan
865 posts
 
If you can extend your budget to about $1500, the Lyra Delos would be a super cart!!
For under $1000, the Shelter 501 MKII would be top picks.
However, the difference between the lyra & the 501 is quite significant.
sidssp
1,077 posts
 
Large soundstage, warmth, and vibrant, and under $1,000; I don't think you can
find one better than the Denon DL-103(R) that you are using. Other more
expensive carts will give you different sounds but they may not be "better",
IMHO.
acrosonic OP
4 posts
 
Griffithds: I'll check out the Clearaudio Vertuoso Wood.

Buconero117: I mounted a Shure V15Mx, but it had a bad hum pickup problem that I couldn't remedy even though I thought that I had everything grounded. I've got a Shure HiTrack lying around that I could mount to see how it performs.
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Why waste money. Try a Shure 97. I know, at $50 it cannot be great, but try it. It would make a great backup cartridge and will surprise you. Hey I have a Clearaudio $1800 running on an Aries, and the 97 gives it a run for the money.
acrosonic OP
4 posts
 
Davt: My preamps (Rogue 99 Magnum with high gain phono, Van Alstine w/step-up transformer and the venerable Carver C 4000t) can all handle cartridges with output in the 0.25mv range. Your recommendations sound good to me.
griffithds
852 posts
 
Get a Clearaudio Vertuoso Wood. Read the reviews. I have 2 arms for my Graham. The other one has a Micro Benz Ruby 3 mounted. The Vertuoso Wood spends 90% of the time in play on my Aries. It sound quite similar to the Ruby but it is more dianamic.
davt's avatar
davt
500 posts
 
A lot would depend on your phono pre-amp. If you can handle the output two I recommend very highly are the shelter 501 MkII and the dynavectore 17d3
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