Technics/RB250 Cartridge advice needed please.

[KC Jones]

It’s been about 4 years since I bought a Technics SL1210 with the intention of following some of the mods in the press, and a couple of years since joining this forum to learn more about the 1210’s capabilities, but due to work commitments and house renovations the venture was never completed.
Returning to the Technics recently, I see the yardstick has been moved somewhat and there are numerous offered upgrades.

I’m going to keep it fairly simple, already there is an AO rewired RB250 with Michelle counter weight, a set of Isonoe feet and an SDS Platter Mat. What I’m looking for now is a cartridge (I may upgrade the power supply further down the line)

I’m pretty much a blank canvas when it comes to sound, as I don’t know what much equipment Sounds like. I use Valve amps (WAD 6550, WD PRE3, WD Phono3S) bought due to their sound per pound. CD player is a Cambridge Azur 840C, Speakers are homemade, what they sound like compared to branded I don’t know.

If anyone can advise me on what to avoid and maybe a couple to shortlist when cartridge matching to the RB250 it would be greatly appreciated. The budget for one is £550.00

Many thanks.

Kevin.

[RobbieGong]

It’s been about 4 years since I bought a Technics SL1210 with the intention of following some of the mods in the press, and a couple of years since joining this forum to learn more about the 1210’s capabilities, but due to work commitments and house renovations the venture was never completed.
Returning to the Technics recently, I see the yardstick has been moved somewhat and there are numerous offered upgrades.

I’m going to keep it fairly simple, already there is an AO rewired RB250 with Michelle counter weight, a set of Isonoe feet and an SDS Platter Mat. What I’m looking for now is a cartridge (I may upgrade the power supply further down the line)

I’m pretty much a blank canvas when it comes to sound, as I don’t know what much equipment Sounds like. I use Valve amps (WAD 6550, WD PRE3, WD Phono3S) bought due to their sound per pound. CD player is a Cambridge Azur 840C, Speakers are homemade, what they sound like compared to branded I don’t know.

If anyone can advise me on what to avoid and maybe a couple to shortlist when cartridge matching to the RB250 it would be greatly appreciated. The budget for one is £550.00

Many thanks.

Kevin.

Hi Kevin,

From personal experience I'd be pretty surprised if the Ortofon 2M Black did not satisfy. It is in an amazing cart and often touted as one of if not the best mm out there. It has a fairly balanced sound, oodles of detail retrieval from the grooves and a way of potraying the texture and timbre of instruments that brings a smile to my face everytime. It's stylus profile (Nude Shibata stylus) means it is very sensitive to vta (Just a slight adjust can make a lot of difference to it's presentaion) etc so take time with set up, be patent, it will be worth it though. I'm running mine on the stock arm with KAB fluid damper and it's lovely. Some would say you have a better arm so..... Although I love the fly on the wheel vta of the stock arm for obvious reasons - All the best ! :)

[DSJR]

Is the existing cartridge ok, as a power supply upgrade should be far more beneficial to ANY cartridge fitted to the Techie...

The RB250 will reasonably take most of what's out there. Whether you'd want to is another matter obviously, and it depends on the bearing setup on your sample as to how successful it'll be - posh counterweight be damned - it's not a fuggin' unipivot :lol:

The 2M Black should be great allround though, as would the Sumiko Blackbird, the Rega Exact and I'm sure there are Shelters and Benzes out there for this osrt of money which I can't comment on, but others seem to very much like.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I used to run a technoarm on my 1210 years ago with a Audio technica cartridge, all i can say is that when the AT cartridge went on my V it sounded markedly better. So, in a nutshell I would counsel against AT cartridges on rega arms. Just my 2 cents worth.

[KC Jones]

Ok thanks guys, a few ideas for me there, Robbie, Dave and some to steer clear of, thanks Rexton

Interesting idea Dave to leave the cart and upgrade the power supply, probably cheeper too. I am loaning an MC cart for the time being, (Highphonic MCA3) so a possibility.

Cheers, regards,

Kevin.

[KC Jones]

Sorry, correction to above grammar. I have borrowed one, not loaned one.

Kevin