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Need some help picking my first MC Cartridge

I have recently purchased an Icon PS1 Mk II tube Phono Preamp. and was thinking of purchasing a seperate MC cartridge and head to interchange with my Nagoaka MP 300 MM cartridge, which I am very happy with. This is my first MC Cartridge so this is more of a chance to compare MC versus MM Cartridges. Some suggestions have been Denon 103 or the Hana Red, The Icon Preamp has a fixed MC load setting of 100 ohms. The Sansui SR 525 Direct Drive Turntable that I will be using has an interchangeable cartridge head, so VTA height, tracking weight, anti-skating adjustments may be required for each cartridge but should not take more than 20 minutes to adjust. I have read that some low output cartridges may be preferable to high output, but I am not sure how this matches up with the Icon Preamp. I am a little in the weeds here with the technical information when it comes to cartridges so be gentle.

My listening preference is more to the musical / warm vinyl side. Gear: Tube preamp, Class "A" amp , alternating with a tube Integrated, Wilson Benesch Square 2 Speakers, Rel Subs (x2). I split my listening about 50/50 Vinyl/Digital.

My Budget is up to $1500.00

128x128pooch2
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,223 posts
 

@lewm 1+

The OP has to limit his choices to cartridges with an coil resistance 10 ohms or less. The OP has not given us the amount he wishes to spend. At $2000 The Lyra Delos is very hard to beat. It has a reasonable output and a 6.3 ohm resistance. Above that at $3500 is the Ortofon Cadenza Black with 0.45 mv and a 5 ohm  resistance along with the Lyra Kleos. Below at $1000 is the Ortofon Quintet Black, 0.3 mv and 5 ohms. If the OP is feeling particularly frisky there is the My Sonic Lab Ultra Eminent EX @ $7000. All these cartridges have modern styluses and cantilevers of Boron or Sapphire. The Ortofon Quintet Black stands out because of it's amazing tracking ability. The Delos is the best value but it's naked cantilever may scare the OP. 

mbmi's avatar
mbmi
446 posts
 

I have the Hana EL @ $1200 ....excellent !

pooch2's avatar
pooch2 OP
72 posts
 

Thanks for all the input and suggestions. Lots of options to consider.

Icon Audio PSI MKII Preamp. Other Info on the Preamp: (Sensitivity - 0.5 mv MC),  (Gain - 3000 MC/69db), (Load MC - 100 ohms).

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,223 posts
 

@pooch2 , 

Push it a little and get the Delos. You will be way happy that you did.

williewonka
3,071 posts
 

One thing about the Denon 103 that is not discussed above - tweaking !

I started with the 103-conical stylus and loved it over the other MM/MI carts I had tried

But @jasonbourne71 is right about the Shibata stylus - it recovers more details

I had my 103 tweaked by Sounssmith - Ruby cantilever with the O.C. Contact Line stylus - so it still had the same warm characteristics, but the details were amazing

When I have it retipped in future I will go with the Shibata, because the O.C. contact Line requires extremely precise setup with the mirror protractor and a young pair of eyes - the Shibata is a little more forgiving and provides more detail than the original Conical Stylus

Another option is the Zu verion of this cartridge, which comes in an aluminum headshell for better performance

Regards - Steve

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