New Cartridge for Pro-Ject 2

[peter312]

I have an old Pro-Ject 2 turntable that I need to buy a new cartridge for. For various reasons (mainly cartridge weight and difficulty in getting a heavier counterweight for this particular deck) I have narrowed down my choice to the following:


Ortofon Tango (the blue one)
Ortofon Super OM10
Ortofon Super OM20
Ortofon 510 mkII
Goldring Elektra


I appreciate the first is an MC cartridge and that it and the OM20 cost about double the others.

I will be using them with my Arcam A90 built in phono stage (that does MM or MC).

Please may I have some thoughts as to which would be the best to get?

Many thanks

Peter

[Spectral Morn]

The Ortofon 510 will work quite well on this turntable as will the OM10 and 20 but the 510 is in my view is a more sophisticated cart than the other two. I don't feel a MC will be a god choice for this particular TT

[peter312]

Thank you, Neil. I did have my doubts about the MC cartridge but put it in the list as a wild card :)

The nice thing is that the 510 is more reasonably priced than some of the others.

Cheers

Peter

[DSJR]

In my experience, the pro-ject 2 is a fine deck as long as the arm isn't shagged by previous owners... The 520 (Vinyl master Red?) is my choice, since it's more refined and clearer sounding than the 510. The 530 is even better (VM Blue?) and has more subtlety right to side end I found..

Not sure if the turntable itself is up to budget to mid price mc types, but you could give 'em a go I suppose. The belt-drive dynamic wow issues start to rear their heads with these soft (Thorens belt?) belt drives, but the ortofon OM or 500 series cartridges do seem to work well in these decks in my experience, tracking at 1.5g or so.

[Spectral Morn]

Looks like the 500 series is now gone replaced with the 2m series and the red is £80 and the Blue is £160. I forgot about this (I didn't sleep well last night, so a bit below par at the minute lol); I think the 500s ran along side for awhile. They still do the 510/520/530/540 styli ok so if you found a knackered 500 getting a styli might be an option I suppose.

I like the 2m Black but its too good a cart for the TT you have and I can't recall sitting down to listen to a Red or Blue so I am not sure what they are like.

[hifi_dave]

The 500 series was replaced by the current 2M range at least 5 years ago. All very good and consistent.

[DSJR]

You'll have to check the specs, but the 500 series lives on as the Vinyl master. The Red equates to the 520 I think.

The 2M range is what is widely promoted as the domestic replacements for the OM and 500 series, but price apart, the OM30, OM40, 530 and 540 are still first rate "mm" cartridges (aren't they all induced magnet types, I can't remember?). Those looking at a great cheap match to vintage turntables, auto or otherwise, check out the OM pro, GT (500 based) and Arkiv, which I think from memory is in essence an elliptical Om Pro..

[peter312]

Thanks for all the input. I've gone for the 510 as I can get one brand new from Germany for a shade over £50, which seems a good price. Unfortunately, the 520 seems harder to get and the 530 is a bit more than I currently want to spend on this record deck.

Unfortunately the 2M range are heavier cartridges and I think I would need to get a heavier counterweight (based on my exoerience with the cartridge currently fitted).

If I get back into playing records, my plan is to buy a better deck at the same time as I replace my whole system. (The amp, CD and main speakers are nearly 9 years old and were my 40th birthday present to myself - urgh, I'm 50 next year).

Thanks once again for the help.

Cheers