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Still looking for a new Moving Coil Cartridge

I noticed that Music Direct has 20% off cartridge sale on select cartridges. I am still using a ZU/Denon DL103 MC cartridge Series 1 with the cartridges tightest tolerances. I purchased it here from “Audiofiel” back in 2010 and have used it sparingly since. I had been using a Dynavector DV20XL cartridge which I bought a couple of years ago but my 6 yo nephew destroyed it (that’s another story) so I am back to the ZU/Denon.

My table is a Technics SL1200G which I truly love. I have been looking at the Hana Low out put MC cartridges. I am interested in the low output “S” series as the $600.00 price is right where I want to be. Now, the million dollar questions: I listen to 95% 60’s, 70’s and 80’s Rock and want whatever cartridge I purchase to make the records sound good without excessive surface noise. Will the Hana S be up to the task? My Mac C2500 tube preamp has cartridge loading from 50 ohms up to 1000 ohms so I should be ok. I just want to be sure this cartridge will be very musical and full bodied sound. I do no want a thin sound. So there you have it, yay or neigh?

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yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,485 posts
 

All the wood body Grado cartridges have threaded holes!

terry9
2,236 posts
 

Delicacy of sound is very important to me as well. Is higher end Koetsu delicate enough? In this respect my higher end Grado is superior to the similarly priced Koetsu which it replaced. Bonus is that Grado tracking is much better. And the holes in my cartridge are threaded.

mickeyb
534 posts
 

Ortofon black mm with that technics. You will be blown away. 

elliottbnewcombjr
5,197 posts
 

If you listen some each week, I suspect you are wearing out your stylus before replacing it.

IMO, no matter what cartridge you choose, you ought to get an advanced stylus shape. The ZU Denon is conical

"0.2 mm square base diamond, crystal aligned, conical cut"

Hana S series is Shibata, a great choice.

https://www.sound-smith.com/articles/stylus-shape-information

estimated longevity of various stylus shapes:

  • Spherical / Conical - 150hrs
  • Elliptical - 250hrs
  • Shibata/Line contact - 400hrs
  • SAS/MicroRidge - 500hrs
elliottbnewcombjr
5,197 posts
 

I chose Audio Technica AT33PTG/II

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-eu/at33ptg-ii

Microlinear on Boron. wider 30db separation; tighter 0.5 channel balance.

My experience: stiffer cantilever = better bass. Shure's Beryllium was stiffest, best bass I ever had, no longer made. Not big difference, but each small difference adds up.

Note: Audio Technica has a trade in program for MC cartridges. I sent mine in, suspecting worn, yes, they sold me a new one for half price!

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