Advice needed on MC cartridges

@skyscraper 

Sorry - I have listened to the Paua extensively - it requires a load of around 470ohms to 1k. Optimum is around 800-1000ohms - therefore it will not match the Luxman. It needs the gain of a moving coil phono, but your phono loading is limited to 100ohms on the MC input - too low for the Paua.

The high output Soundsmith range - Voice/Aida/Zephyr mkIII. are designed for MM input at 47k and may suit. The output is low at 2.12mv, but your MM phono inputs specs out at 2.5mv - you might have to turn the volume up a little.

The van den hul Frog/MC One Special require minimum load of 200 ohms - again will not suit the phono in your Luxman.

However the Van Den Hul MC Two is a high output version that will run into your ?MM input - it has 2.25mv output recommended load 47k

If you are looking at moving coils - the following have recommended loads of a minimum 100ohms

Audio Technica ART9 series

Dynavector

Koetsu

Ortofon Cadenza series

Check out Air Tight PC7 - in you price range and very good match - they make the Luxman MC cartridge.

Coming back to the Paua - it is an outstanding cartridge - if you purchased the matching Soundsmith MCP2 phono you would be very happy. I have compared the SS MCP2 phono to the Lamm LP, Linn Uphorik and other more expensive phonos with the Paua and the MCP2 holds its own. From what I can see from owners who have compared the phono stages in the Luxman integrated amps to separate modest priced phonos the Luxman phono is average.

Dear @skyscraper : " The 470 ohm setiing is available as the MM phono amp (phono stage) setting on the Luxman 507uX MK II. So I should be good there if I end up going with the Paua. "

You have a big problem and is that your knowledge level is not low but non-existent at all. Your Luxman MM stage has not the gain need it to handle the LO SS cartridge.

I already told you that for that PAUA MK2 can run in you unit a Technician need to change the stock 100 ohms resistor for a 470 ohms. That’s all what you need it.

Btw, how many LP’s do you own?

Sorry to say this but if I was you with your non-existent know how I just be steady with my 2M Black till I learn because analog is extremely demanding in knowledge levels that you just unknow at all. You not even know what to know about.

R.

I.ve never heard the Orfofon. Mt reference for an MM is the Sure V15 RS with a Jico SAS stylus, which is/was quite highly regarded. When I upgraded to MCs I went through the following progression on my Oracle Alexandria MK III/rewired Sumiko Premier MMT through a Musical Musical Surroundings Phomomena II phono stage:

Denon DL-301 II

Dynavector 10x3 (I was just curious)

Hana EL

Hana SL

Audi-Technica AT33PTG/2

The sweet spot for me (and the best of the lot by a large margin) is the Audio-Technica. Cheaper than the Hana SL and just a more profound, realistic, musical device. I recommend it highly and so do all these people.

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/best-cartridge-youve-never-heard-of-the-audio-technica-at33ptg-ii.329374/

If it's too costly or you feel you need to invest in a phono stage and scrimp on the cartridge for now, I definitely think the Denon is a no-brainer. You'll find more folks in the DL-103 camp, but I went for the 301 for it's balance and refinement, but that was based on reviews I read; not A/B comparison.

Good luck and enjoy the search!

Other question: how much of your daily/week time are you using to listen LP and how much time the digital alternative?

R.

426hemicuda. that sounds very interesting what you accomplished with your Denon 103 plus cost effective. If you were living close by I’d like to see how you did that. I admire anyone with the skill level and. know how to accomplish something like that.

Dover- thank you for your explanations and offering alternative cartridges to consider. This is a difficult subject to understand for an end user not conversant with electronics. So I appreciate you taking the time to try and explain some things. I’ll research all the alternative cartridges you recommend.

Raul, I don’t know much about the nuts and bolts of electronics, but should be able to figure out with some help an appropriate higher end cartridge compatible with the rest of my system. At the least, t am trying to learn so I don’t make too bad a mistake, so bear with me.

I’ve somewhere between 1300 to 1500 vinyl albums. I haven’t counted them in years. It varies, but I usually divide my listening time about equally between vinyl and CD’s. I’ve considerably fewer CD’s but their all newer to my collection and easier to use, so they get more use per capita. I’ll generally play two or three albums or CD;s per day on average.

2channel- thanks for your input and sharing your journey through the cartridges you’ve owned. At this point maybe I should just be soliciting recommendations on cartridges that fit my price point ($3500 range) that would be compatible with my Luxman integrated amps specs and my VPI Classic 2 turntable. I’m a bit disappointed both the Paua and Van den Hul LO won’t work. Thanks for the link too. I’ll check it out.

Mike

I copied the specs from the Luxman manual below for anyone who might be following along and interested and trying to learn about this subject and the specs under discussion.

Luxman 507uX MkII Specifications