New MM Cart for a Tech 1210 mk2

[337alant]

My son is looking for a new MM or HOMC Cart for a Tech 1210 mk2
Budget up to 200 quid, any suggestions please :scratch:
I have a spare headshell for him (jelco stock one)
Alan

[MikeMusic]

I have a Denon 103 available.

Don't know what it's worth

Anyone have ideas please ?

This was on the Technics I bought from David at MCRU.
Don't think it had much use and I didn't give it much either, swapping to an Ortofon SPU for a wee bit more dough

[hifi_dave]

Ortofon 2M Blue. Well within budget.

Or their 2M PNP, which plugs straight into the Technics arm.

[Wakefield Turntables]

You can buy aluminium rebodied denon 103 for £165 which would probably beat any mm art for under £200 unless you can score a ortofon 2m black for less.

[hifi_dave]

Alan was asking for a MM or high o/p MC.

[fiddlemaker]

OP wants a high output mc (or mm), innit.
So 103 no good to the chap.

[337alant]

Actually Ive just noticed his amp does have a MM/MC input its a Marantz PM6005 amp :doh:.

Dave thanks yes I'm a big Ortofon fan myself so the 2M blue sounds like a nice choice.

Alan

[hifi_dave]

It's an excellent cartridge and the PNP version plugs right in.

[DSJR]

Chaps, have you all forgotten about how marginal the Techie tonearm is for many MC cartridges? It's too light and possibly not quite rigid enough for many MC's, hence the drift to the Jelco a few years ago.

The 2M Blue or AT440MLa is where it's at these days for the Techie tonearm I think, and since Dave sells and has set up many 2M's.........

[.mus]

IME, the 2M blue pairs very nicely with the stock 1210 arm. There's some interesting discussion of the optimal tracking force to use with the blue, here (http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/ortofon-2m-blue-improved-with-higher-tracking-force.292284/), for instance.

Another option - which I haven't tried but am rather tempted by - is the Nagoka MP150 (http://www.divineaudio.co.uk/nagaoka-mp-150-moving-magnet-cartridge). They retail at a little over than £200, but I saw this morning that the linked store will be reducing all prices by 10% for one week in June, which would bring it in line with your budget.

[337alant]

Ortofon 2M Blue. Well within budget.

Or their 2M PNP, which plugs straight into the Technics arm.

Dave
Could you PM me the price of these 2 options please

Alan

[hifi_dave]

PM sent.

[337alant]

Order Placed for Ortofon 2M Blue PNP :) thanks Dave that's a great price :eyebrows:

Alan

[Floyddroid]

Eyup
Al

Just bought meself a 1210 off the bay of E and putting a 250 on it. It's mainly to play me singles and forty fives on. I ill be putting a 2M blue in the sharp end because they are the dogs mate. I have heard both the blue and the black and there isn't much between em. I have no doubt the Denon will sound ok but the 2M blue has a bit mare va va voom!

[.mus]

Small thought re the PnP model: It seems to come pre aligned to Baerwald and, so far as I can tell by looking at an overhead shot, it doesn't seem to be possible to alter this. My experience with the 1210 has been that aligning in accordance with the Technics tool produces the best results (though YMMV of course), but the options to experiment with this will obviously be limited by the design of the PnP. Just a thought :)

[337alant]

good point .mus but I thought I would get the PNP as you can still remove the 2M Blue and I have some spare headshells if it doesn’t suit.
This is for my son who is not so critical and it will give him simple alignment without any dramas.

Hi Steve yes I have heard your 2M Blue and it was one of the carts on my mind when I started this thread so it was an easy decision.
I also have a Tech 1200 mk2 myself in a box in the workshop and I am going to be trying this cart in it before it goes to my son, may just buy one for myself as well

Alan

[337alant]

Wow the 2M Blue is a cracking cart and sounds excellent on the SL 1200.
Great recommendation thanks and thanks to HIFI Dave for supplying it
I didn't like the PTP mounting and its a bit ugly TBH
Anyway I have spare headshells so I mounted it in one of them
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3857/14217134690_d90e8851bd_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nEjwPU)IMG_1218 (https://flic.kr/p/nEjwPU) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
Alan

[belloire]

2m blue works great on a techie, also a goldring 1042 if you can find a used one, great combo.

lol, didn't see the post where you bought one :)

the 2m blue is a much better cart than i expected and the better the phono stage the more you can get from it.

[337alant]

Yeah I bought the 2M blue for my sons 1210 but I have had this 1200 for a couple of years now in a box in the workshop so I thought it was time to try it and I am impressed even with the stock arm the turntable rocked and didn't really put a foot wrong.
Im going to have to part with the 2m Blue this week end so I may have to buy another cart for mine?, Ill try my Denon DL110 & Dl160 first see how they fair but I don't think they are a match for the Ortofon

Alan

[Floyddroid]

Got to disagree with the constant Denon recommendations. Especially the comment about it many MM's. There are even more MM's out there thet it wont beat. The 2M blue is a cracker and so is the Goldring 1040 series.
You can buy aluminium rebodied denon 103 for £165 which would probably beat any mm art for under £200 unless you can score a ortofon 2m black for less.

[Clive197]

Wow the 2M Blue is a cracking cart and sounds excellent on the SL 1200.
Great recommendation thanks and thanks to HIFI Dave for supplying it
I didn't like the PTP mounting and its a bit ugly TBH
Anyway I have spare headshells so I mounted it in one of them
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3857/14217134690_d90e8851bd_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nEjwPU)IMG_1218 (https://flic.kr/p/nEjwPU) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr
Alan

Err! Alan, that's not a stock Techie arm! Very nice, what is it?

[337alant]

Hi Clive, its a Micro seiki 202, nice arm seems real nice quality

[337alant]

Ok I had to give the 2M blue to my son and when I was fitting it I noticed his arm was in really poor condition so I gave him my Rega 250 OL1
It really responded well and sounds very good indeed :eyebrows:

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2929/14617736524_96d36ec7b4_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ogHHN5)20140625_192418 (https://flic.kr/p/ogHHN5) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

Alan

[Clive197]

Hi Clive, its a Micro seiki 202, nice arm seems real nice quality

Ooooo! I want one.

The plate it's mounted on, did you make it or was it originally for a Rega clone?

[337alant]

Clive
Its an Origin Live rega arm board which shares the same 222mm mounting pivot to spindle distance as the MA202
See this thread
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?32774-Micro-Seiki-MA202-on-a-techy&p=557252#post557252

Alan

[twotone]

Clive
Its an Origin Live rega arm board which shares the same 222mm mounting pivot to spindle distance as the MA202
See this thread
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?32774-Micro-Seiki-MA202-on-a-techy&p=557252#post557252

Alan

Hi Alan, what cart are you using in the MS arm now ?

[337alant]

Hi Twotone
Just using an old Denon DL110 its not bad but hasent got much bass

I have a Nagoka MP30 and a new Denon 301 coming soon so see what they are like ?, wouldn't mind trying a Denon DL103 or 103R
What are you using?

Alan

[Clive197]

Alan, I'm baffled. According to your signature, you've got a Kontrapunct B. Why o why do you want to try a Denon 103?

Clive

[337alant]

Good point clive :doh: in fact I have 2 x Kontrapunkt B carts and a AT33EV which I could try as well
I use the Kontrapunkt b in my garrard 401 / Jelco 750L and it sounds fab
I bought the Denon 301 because it was new and very cheap I think it may be better suited to my Gyro deck / Audiomods arm.
I think the Nagoka will sound great on the 1200
I also have a SME 3009 mk2 coming so that will be interesting to try as well :eyebrows:

Alan

[twotone]

Hi Twotone
Just using an old Denon DL110 its not bad but hasent got much bass

I have a Nagoka MP30 and a new Denon 301 coming soon so see what they are like ?, wouldn't mind trying a Denon DL103 or 103R
What are you using?

Alan

I'm using a Reson Reca Alan, sounds fantastic, the guy who sold me it said it sings with valves so I bought a Firebottle phono amp and the seller (Paul) set the amp up for my cart.

The Reson is supposed to be as good as a 2m black but I've never heard one so that could be rubbish.

Tony