View Full Version : What Cartridge?
Ok so I'm down to the last part I need to get my TT up and running, a Cartridge.
So far I have a Thorens TD124 Mk2, with a Rega RB300 mounted on a standard arm board. running into a Croft micro 25 basic pre, with a MM phono stage and Leak ST20 amp.
To be honest I know nothing about cartridges apart from for the Phono stage in the croft I need a MM cartridge or a high output MC, but I have no idea what would be a good match for the rest of my set up. I'm looking to spend upto around £200.
I have looked at the following:
Ortofon M2 Blue, which looks like it's reviewed very well.
Ortofon M2 Bronze, Which I have seen a good review but says it can be quite harsh and clinical sounding.
Goldring 2300
Grado Prestige gold1
But any recommendations of cartridges which would suit this set up would be great.
The Grado is a bit rough around the edges. Think possibly about the Denon DL-110, quite refined. Had it been within your reach, I would have said a Dynavector 10x5.
Dominic Harper
18-12-2011, 23:35
2m Red is very good sounding and will work well.
The RB300 should mechanically work with most carts out there and the DL110/160 is still a general allround fave I think.
This may be too toppy for some, but the AT440MLa remains a favourite for me (the 120E is great in older lightweight arms that aren't rigid enough for something "demanding") and it should be a doddle to set up well in the RB300 with any luck..
The Grado is a bit rough around the edges. Think possibly about the Denon DL-110, quite refined. Had it been within your reach, I would have said a Dynavector 10x5.
Origin Live have exchange Dynavector 10x5 for just over a couple hundred,
anybody know how it will perform with a 124 and RB300?
2m Red is very good sounding and will work well.
Hi Dominic,
Is the red better than the blue and bronze even though its a cheaper cart?
Dominic Harper
18-12-2011, 23:48
I have a boxed DL160 virtually new up for grabs.
Dominic Harper
18-12-2011, 23:51
The other 2M's are superior on paper, but the red is very very good and suits the rega arm.
The DL-160 is excellent, I didn't know there were any left.
jandl100
19-12-2011, 10:41
Unless you are seriously into dance-type music, where good mm carts excel in your price bracket, I'd strongly recommend a high output mc - they are generally more musically sophisticated devices, imo.
A DV10X5 is great - I got a very nice condition used one on eBay for £80 ... but generally they go for £130-£170.
I've not heard the Ortofon DL-110 or 160 but they are much liked by many folks. I'd imagine the DV10X5 would be better, though.
____
Back to mm carts, I had a Grado Prestige Gold - that was a seriously laid-back device. Some folks like it, but I'd call it soggy.
Ortofon MM's are much livelier and better controlled, but can be over-assertive and can sound more "digital" than many CD players! With Orty's much depends on the overall synergy in your system - they can sound very good indeed.
Simon,The Grado prestige gold,as far as i know,is not a good match with the Rega arm you own due to compliance missmatch.The newer gold1 will probably have the same problem.All Ortofon cartridges are clinical sounding in the same way most AT cartridges are overbright.I am not into mm cartridges but the only one i can recomment(if you are looking for a "old style" sound without expecting much regarding treble and bass) is the shure m-97he (uh-oh,i hear cries of anger and dispear) lol
Jerry - the DL-110 and DL-160 are Denon high output MC cartridges and sound very nice, especially the 160.
RobbieGong
19-12-2011, 12:43
Had the 2M Blue before upgrading to the black. The Blue is very good, nice and full bodied, slightly rich sound and fairly detailed. It was the fact I enjoyed it that I decided to see what the flagship Black had to offer. I too was going to also mention the DL 160, not had one but read loads of good reviews about it prior to purchasing the Black.
griffo104
19-12-2011, 13:35
When it comes to MMs I've always preferred the Goldrings over the Ortofons - just more fun, I've always found the Ortofons to be slightly clinical albeit very good carts.
Given the choice I would see if you could just break that £200 and look at the HO MC carts from the likes of Benz Micro (the Silver is a lovely cart) or Sumiko BPS EVOIII which is also a very nice cart an in this later guise far better suited to the Rega arm then in it's previous guise.
The Dynavector mentioned is also a good, solid purchase with a little more zip and dynamically little more excitable than the other ones I've mentioned.
Unless you are seriously into dance-type music, where good mm carts excel in your price bracket, I'd strongly recommend a high output mc - they are generally more musically sophisticated devices, imo.
:nono:
A certain Mr G Croft (and me) would beg to differ :)
While I'm not suggesting Simon tries one in his Rega you have to go a very long way to "beat" a well setup Decca. My Blue sounds just wonderful in the Jelco 750. I know some are a bit worried about buying older cartridges for fear of issues with the suspension but if you are prepared to try this route there are some truly awesome MM cartridges to be had. I am currently running a NOS Sonus Gold Blue in the SME 3009 Iii on my TD150 and find it the most realistic and lifelike sound I have heard from a cartridge (I have new spare just in case).Likewise my NOS AKG P8ES SuperNova is sublime.
While there is no doubt cartridge/arm compliance matching is important in theory - in practice it's not so simple. My "spare" Sonus Gold Blue (very high compliance) works very well thank you in the Jelco 750 with a low mass headshell - the theory says it shouldn't.
You don't just need to stick with the "big boys" of the cartridge world.
Steve
jandl100
19-12-2011, 13:48
When it comes to MMs I've always preferred the Goldrings over the Ortofons - just more fun, I've always found the Ortofons to be slightly clinical albeit very good carts.
Given the choice I would see if you could just break that £200 and look at the HO MC carts from the likes of Benz Micro (the Silver is a lovely cart) or Sumiko BPS EVOIII which is also a very nice cart an in this later guise far better suited to the Rega arm then in it's previous guise.
The Dynavector mentioned is also a good, solid purchase with a little more zip and dynamically little more excitable than the other ones I've mentioned.
Interesting, I've not tried a Goldring.
I did have a go with a Benz Micro Gold lo mc and found it good but a bit bland. But that ties in with Griffo calling the DV10X5 a little more excitable - I guess I prefer a bit of bounce in my sound!
___
And Steve - Deccas - yes, well .... there's an interesting thought! ... But not in a RB300, as you say.
But Deccas apart, I do reckon that MCs are better.
griffo104
19-12-2011, 14:13
Interesting, I've not tried a Goldring.
I did have a go with a Benz Micro Gold lo mc and found it good but a bit bland. But that ties in with Griffo calling the DV10X5 a little more excitable - I guess I prefer a bit of bounce in my sound!
I do quite like an excitable sound but for some reason even though I've listened to a lot of Dynavector carts I've never actually put my hands in my own pockets and spent the cash on one.
I'm not really sure why either, tbh.
I do quite like the sound of the Benz, it is more relaxed but once it gets under your skin have a wonderful flow and natural grace.
I've recently found my cart changing kit (somehow lost during the house move but it ended up in Southend and not Newport somehow), so as I finish at work Wednesday the Lyra will be going back on the deck in place of the Denon DL-301ii for some Xmas listening.
I've also got a Goldring Elite which is much under-appreciated cart, imo. The plan in the new year is to actually grab a Goldring MM - I've always enjoyed them in other peoples systems but never actually owned an MM myself. going to try and rectify this soon just to have a go.
There are several carts I've wanted to get but never have - The Dynavector and Goldring MMs come in to that category.
freefallrob
19-12-2011, 15:47
In my experience the Ortofon 2M Blue works very well on an RB300 into a valve stage (in my case an EAR834P), it's in budget, sounds clean, has solid bass and dynamics, tracks well and plays a tune quite well.
Another choice would be a Goldring 2200, again it does all the above but sounds less concise, bigger and and ballsier I guess, although slightly more 'messy' than the 2M Blue.
You could get a Goldring 1012GX, great all rounder, and slightly more laid back than the above, better long term listen maybe and has better depth of stage.
Another cartridge that works really well is the Ortofon MC3 turbo (if you can get one), super!
Above all in my personal experience and probably within your £200 budget;-)
p.s The Goldring Eroica LX is a lovely sounding cartridge, but I haven't heard/tried the high out put version, plus it's probably over budget!
jandl100
19-12-2011, 16:20
I do quite like an excitable sound but for some reason even though I've listened to a lot of Dynavector carts I've never actually put my hands in my own pockets and spent the cash on one.
I'm not really sure why either, tbh.
I've had a fair few higher-end-ish DV carts - 17D2, 17D3 and XX1L.
Tbh, the 10X5 is my fave - the others did have somewhat better detail and soundstaging, but the 10X5 has more life and energy!
My DV10X5 is spare at the moment, Griffo - what with the arrival of my Zu-ed Denon 103 - do you fancy a play with it? Drop me your address in a PM if you do. :)
I like my Ortofon Bronze very much. Performs very well and a good tracker.
Hi All,
Thanks for all the replies it gives me a lot more to think about,
just another couple options:
Soundsmith SMMC4
"http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/soundsmith_e.html"
Sumiko Blue Point No 2
The Grado is a bit rough around the edges. Think possibly about the Denon DL-110, quite refined. Had it been within your reach, I would have said a Dynavector 10x5.
Having read a few reviews I'm getting seriously tempted by the Dynavector 10x5
griffo104
21-12-2011, 09:30
Having read a few reviews I'm getting seriously tempted by the Dynavector 10x5
The Dynavector is definitely a good choice if you are after a HO MC. It's very reasonably priced a well.
jazzpiano
21-12-2011, 18:49
Thank you Simon for your query. I'm all about the timbre/naturalness so I go against the grain a bit and like the Grados. Not very exciting I must admit. But you've made me think of a question: How much should the type of music we listen to and our preferences influence what cartridge we buy? As an analogy, when I bought my Spendor SP 1s they were tucked away in a corner of the shop, not getting any love by anyone, basically a stand to set boxes on. When I asked to hear them I was told they were a trade-in and wouldn't compete yet I smiled when I heard them and they were perfect for me - right sound, right texture, balance, etc. So, I'm wondering if we have to get down to the preferences and music?
Best and Merry Christmas,
Barry
OK so I finally went with a sumiko blue piont no. 2. And got a good price from cloney audio in Dublin. So now I just need to finishing servicing the Turntable so I can try it out.
Good luck with it, Simon. Let us know how it sounds.
Good luck with it, Simon. Let us know how it sounds.
I will but could still be a few weeks until I get the 124 up and running.
Good luck with it, Simon. Let us know how it sounds.
+1 :)
A friend of mine ran a Sumiko BPS for a while (which is largely an undressed No.2) and loved it.
I'm in the market for another cartridge myself - similar budget to you, Simon, so will be intrigued to hear of what you think. Shame there's not some kind of 'cartridge library' where we could try before we buy! (oh for a perfect world!). :D
+1 :)
A friend of mine ran a Sumiko BPS for a while (which is largely an undressed No.2) and loved it.
I'm in the market for another cartridge myself - similar budget to you, Simon, so will be intrigued to hear of what you think. Shame there's not some kind of 'cartridge library' where we could try before we buy! (oh for a perfect world!). :D
It's such a gamble unless you know someone who has one you can listen to. But that doesn't mean the cartridge will work in your setup. I read lots of Good things about the blue point 2 so here's hoping it lives up to it.
THe dealer the brought it from was saying the BPS is very delicate and he had a customer who trashed 2 within a couple months :doh:
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