Cartridge Upgrade Recommendations

[walpurgis]

I suspect the Nagaoka is higher compliance. The arm mass may not have been enough for the rather low compliance Denons.

[The Chronicals]

I suspect the Nagaoka is higher compliance. The arm mass may not have been enough for the rather low compliance Denons.

The Project arms are Low mass, featherweights at around 8-9g - would that explain it?

[walpurgis]

The Project arms are Low mass, featherweights at around 8-9g - would that explain it?

Very likely!

It's often worth experimenting with mass. As a temporary measure, mounting a 5p or 10p coin on top of the headshell with BluTak might have made all the difference

[The Chronicals]

Very likely!

It's often worth experimenting with mass. As a temporary measure, mounting a 5p or 10p coin on top of the headshell with BluTak might have made all the difference

It did come with an additional weight which I tried with and without, still boomed away merrily with either

But for the price of the Denon 110, it is a very good cart for that money, it was just no way as smooth and detailed compared to a Nag, which for my ears was'nt quite right.

[walpurgis]

The DL-110 is fine at the price but I have to admit, I far prefer the DL-160. More refined and much quieter on surface noise.

[The Chronicals]

The DL-110 is fine at the price but I have to admit, I far prefer the DL-160. More refined and much quieter on surface noise.

I thought so too, but tricky to get hold of now as its discountinued, the 110 is still off the shelf

[walpurgis]

There's one high output MC nobody ever seems to think of. The Goldring Eroica H. I've not tried one, but if it sounds anywhere as good as the low output LX version, it should be very nice indeed. I do own the Eroica LX and like it a lot. It's very musical.

[paulf-2007]

SAE 1000LT made by coral in the '80s and can still be found, 2.5mv so a 1:2 step up would make a big difference as I found. But better on a medium to high mass arm. But use a headshell weight and more weight on the counterweight and it will sing. I have a spare you could try. Arm/cart matching is key along with cart/step up matching if using MC into mm stage.

[cjm123]

IMHO I would have thought the Denon DL-110 would work well in the Technics from an arm mass resonate point of view.I have had a DL-110 for some time using it in a Rega RP3 and found it dynamic and fun but a little lacking LF weight and in solidity of the images. Still a great cartridge though for the price!

Good luck with your search!

[Simon_Nottingham]

Some of the Grado cartridges are also worth considering: the Prestige series falls within your budget (the Gold is a rather nice cartridge) so might some of their wood bodied ones. They recently introduced the V2 versions so substantial savings can be found on their older models if you look around.

Cheers
-j.

I'd second the Grado. I recently got a Reference Series Platinum 2 to go with my Spacedeck and Ace Space arm and I'm more than happy with it.