Cartridge for Technics SL-1200GAE

@chayro

I clearly stated that the Denon WAS a match for the Technics arms, which you agree with.

No, i don’t agree. Denon 103 and Technics tonearm is the worst combination. No matter old arm or new arm, they are both NOT heavy enough for low compliance Denon 103. It’s like mounting low compliance cartridges on Black Widow arm with a few coins sticked on top, those arms are not for oldschool low compliance monsters even if you change headshell for a heavy one. It;s like putting Ortofon SPU on the tonearm designed for lightweight MM cartridges of mid compliance.

@schw06

..looking for cartridge recommendations that are a good match for the tonearm and have a musical character.

I think the "music character" is much more important than just matching which gives you nothing, because you have absolutely no problem to use any mid or mid-high compliance cartridges on Technics tonearm with stock technics headshell. You can simply use this calculator (hope it will help) https://www.ortofon.com/support/support-hifi/resonance-frequency

Resonance frequency can be calculated by using the formula 
f = 1000 : (2 x π x √ (M x C)) where:
f - Cartridge resonance frequency in Hz
π - 3.14159265359...
C - Cartridge compliance lateral in µm/mN
M - Total tonearm system mass which is a sum of Mass of cartridge, Mass of headshell and screws and Effective mass of tone arm (all values in gram).

• Resonance frequency within 7-12Hz is optimal for the system. 
• Resonance frequency slightly outside optimal interval 6,5-7Hz and 12-14Hz can be considered as a possible that probably can be used without problems.
• Resonance frequency outside the interval 6,5-7Hz and 12-14Hz is questionable, and the system might not work properly.

I made three changes to my system at the same time.  I replaced (but kept) a Technics SL-1210 M5G and Ortofon 2M black with the new SL1200 GAE.  In addition, I acquired a Lyra Delos cartridge for this set-up.  I also purchased a Okki Nokki record cleaner.  Before playing any of my vintage record collection I cleaned them with the Okki Nokki.  The rest of my system is pretty conventional and unchanged.  McIntosh 501 mono blocs, Parasound JC2 preamp, Nova Phonomonem II phono preamp and Lagacy Focus SE speakers.

I have to believe that all three changes contributed to the improvement in clarity, imaging, soundstage, etc.. But this combination of turntable and cartridge is, in a word, phenomenal.  I feel like a veil has been removed from the music.  I loved my record collection before but now it is like listening to new music again.  The only downside is that I'm spending a lot of money on vintage LP's.  I'm tremendously enjoying this set-up!

Anyone using a Dynavector XV-1S on their GAE? 

I have the SL1200GAE and use the Audio Technia ART 9. I'm very happy.