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Cartridge upgrade for vintage TT - MM or MC?

I have a Technics SL-D202 that currently has a Sumiko Pearl on it, which is OK but I don't totally love it. The midrange is nice but the treble in particular is lacking. Compared to my digital source it sounds dull and lifeless and therefore I hardly use it.

My question is, would it be at all worth it to upgrade the cartridge or should I just wait until I can upgrade the TT totally?  I am considering the Schiit Sol in the future if they ever get it back on the market but my wife really likes the automatic function of our current table so I may be stuck with it or something similar at least for now.

I had considered trying a lower-end MC cartridge and seeing how that sounds but any other recommendations would be appreciated.

I use a Schiit Mani pre which can be adjusted for any cart (or so I'm told).  

The table came stock with a AT-71E and I also tried a Shure MX97e but neither of those really wow'ed me.
elangley01
elangley01 OP
93 posts
 
Well i don't necessarily want it to sound digital, but i would like it to have some sparkle to it. 

My other option is to wait a bit and see about upgrading to a new TT like a Pro-Ject DC or some other similar priced "audiophile" TT. 

Or is the vintage table I have now always going to be better? Adjusted for inflation the prices are in the same ballpark, but is vintage direct drive just inherently superior to new belt drive in the same range? 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
It depends on the turntable design, many vintage turntables are crap too, some of them are amazing in comparison to the more expensive turntables made today. I am using only vintage turntables, i hate belt drive turntables (no matter new or old). But i like all my vintage direct drive machines.

You can always buy new Technics SL1200G or GR to save your time, but if you're really into vintage analog gear then nothing wrong with it! 

elangley01 OP
93 posts
 
So here's something interesting. In my search for new TTs in the same price range I came across some good reviews of the Fluance reference series.

The RT82 ships with the Otofon OM 10 and lists the following specs:
Tonearm effective weight: 28.2g
Headshell weight: 10g
Cartridge weight: 5g
Cartridge compliance: 20

Just for giggles I put these into a resonant frequency calculator and got 5.4 (!)

That can't be right, can it? Am I missing something?
boxer12
8,655 posts
 
I’m not familiar with the pearl cartridge but if it sounds dull, try to raise the vertical tracking angle a little (no more than 1/16 of an inch) to see if it adds any sparkle. Generally if a cartridge sounds dull & muddy, the VTA is set to low. Again, I’m not familiar with the pearl, so it could be the cartridge. Just a suggestion.
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Forget MM cartridges! None of them sounds as good as even the venerable Denon 103 (and its variants)! These have always been my go-to choice for a budget price! When I wanted to add a NEW TT to my collection of vintage TTs I bought a Pioneer PLX1000 direct-drive, Denon 103R and a vintage Denon step-up transformer (SUT). Cost ($700 + $300 +$200) = $1200 for a rig that easily competes with far more costly gear! 
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