Chewing over some cart ideas- advice appreciated...

[Mike g]

I've fitted my origin live modded rega arm to my lenco gl75 and want to use a mm cart. I have an old shure 75ej which came with the lenco but the (removable) stylus is low compliance and I don't know how old it is. Sounded good on the lenco arm when it was on though. I've ordered longer cartridge screws to allow me to try it on the rega arm. I had planned to just buy a new mm cart (eg ortofon 2m blue or a 530mkII etc) but it occurred to me that I could just buy a jico sas replacement for the shure which would save me some money. Is this a plausible idea or should I go with a more modern cart?

[DSJR]

The EJ is a bit of a dullard these days in all honesty but was a medium compliance cartridge that tracked at 1.8g safely. The 2M Blue is critical of exact alignment and variable VTA is as important as overhang. I don't know the extent of the OL bodging here, but the 500 series always sounded great on RB arms as did the Goldring 1042. The RB arms as stock will take almost any good modern cartridge IMO.

[Oldpinkman]

I don't think the origen mods to the rega include a VTA adjustment which can be a bit of a limitation
A quick search for the shure EJ produced no information on compliance, but shure are usually not stiff and the recommended replacement stylus M97XE is certainly not stiff, but should still be Ok in the Origen especially with the damper.
IMAO the 1042 is a bloody good cartridge all things considered. I have been hugely impressed with it , and as so often Arthurs description was maddeningly appropriate

"A Ford Focus. Not exceptional in any area but does nothing wrong. Good value for money alrounder" - If anything that is damning with faint praise. It's produced some pretty good music in my systems recently, and should work well in your arm :)

[Mike g]

My concern about the ortofon 530 which might be available is that it is from the 90s and whilst it doesn't have many hours I know that the suspension can go over time. Or am I being too highly strung?

[DSJR]

Richard, can the 97XE stylus really be used in the 75 body? Shure changed the coils and everything as they went along and a mechanical fit is no indication of a quality sound..

I'm a huge fan of the original M97HE and the current Me97XE is directly descended from it I understand. This one has different cantilever damping and with or without damper used, the RB arm is no problem.

[navigator]

What style of sound do u like? 'Modern' can mean CD like ie a bit digital. If so Ortofon 2M Blue is super choice. Fitting it into the hot spot of the groove requires attention time-possibly washer[s] for your arm base and certainly an alignment protractor [off internet-try Stevenson alignment] There's lots of carts around £100 . Cheaper variant of the excellent Goldring 1042 is their 1012 also vg in your arm. AT 95 is also vg capable in your arm if you're used to the brighter modern sound. There's a lot waiting in your vinyl-let it out!!

[Mike g]

I had a dynavector 20xl on an lp12 feeding a p75 mkII phononstage which I liked though was better at airy than deep bass and fast dynamics. I then replaced the p75 with an eastern electric Minimax valve phono stage with an inbuilt SUT. I never felt that this was a good match for the 20xl as whilst it imaged well it really didn't do bass. I then sold the lp12 (keeping the rega arm and 20xl cart) and bought a lenco gl75 with the Shure M75EJ on the standard lenco arm. Really enjoyable - good fast bass and very involving to listen to though les detail that the 20xl/rega combo. I then tried to replace the knackered b blocks on the lenco arm but broke the internal arm wire whilst doing so...instead of getting the arm wire replaced I cut a new hole in the lenco top plate and installed the rega arm with the 20xl still feeding the eastern electric. But it just didn't work well and had lost the drive of the mm cart.

So I've sold the 20xl and whilst I still have the M75EJ I have some money to play with to either upgrade the M75EJ or a new cart 😄. I do plan to try the M75EJ on the rega arm when I get long enough mouthing screws this week however I think the compliance of this cart won't work optimally with the light rega arm. Of course I could be wrong and the shure will work well with the rega however I don't know how old the stylus is so I would want to replace it in any event to ensure no damage to vinyl etc and maximise sound quality.

So basically in after an mm cart with some drive behind it that won't be over bright. I'm less inclined by the 2M as it sounds like it might be too clinical and cd like for my tastes.

[loo]

Hi, I would go for the Nagaoka mp200
great drive and dynamics and sounds great through the minimax
Paul

[Mike g]

Thanks for the recommendation- might be a bit out of my budget but I'll have a look around.

[navigator]

Correct 2M blue is not for you at moment or at95. Rega arm is about 11g usually and accepts variable compliance carts-shure is ok match Latest cart called CARBON from REGA at £35 new is bass happy and reviews vg for musicality-see net - said to equal carts 3 x price. Nagoaka are all good-some vvg. I expect you've done all the usual setup checks-arm tube sloping down to pivot/azimuth/ alignment protractor etc? Hope Shure works for you.