MC Carts

[walpurgis]

Well somebody had to do it, as we have an MM thread buzzing along quite nicely.

Mine are:

Goldring Eroica LX

ZYX R50 Bloom H

ZYX R100 H

ZYX R100 H2

ZYX R100 Yatra H

And until very recently Ortofon MC25FL. Buggered if I know what happened to that one. :)

All of the above sound just fine. I'm a bit mystified why the Goldring seems to be below the radar for most people. It's a damn musical cartridge

The ZYX R50 is the biggest MC bargain out there. Fabulous and not inferior to the dearer ZYX models in its ability to make music. The two R100 H and R100 H2 are very different, but both are almost forensic in the way they dig deep for what's on the record. The Yatra? Well, that is just heaven. Maybe a Fuji next?

[oldius]

Well we did until the camera boys took it over!

AT ART1
Denon DL-S1
AT 0C9ii

The art1 is the best cartridge I have heard without exception.

[walpurgis]

Well we did until the camera boys took it over!

AT ART1
Denon DL-S1
AT 0C9ii

The art1 is the best cartridge I have heard without exception.


How do you get on with the AT 0C9ii. I've not tried one, but people speak of them as having a rather forward top end. I get the impression the balance is something like that of the Lyra Dorian.

[struth]

I've got ....so its an orphan......originally came from a large family but never got a chance, so came to live with me.....Orofon fine line


...I do have 2 denon hmc's but I guess they don't count

[BTH K10A]

Currently have:

EMT TSD15
EMT TSD15 SFL
EMT TMD 25
EMT OFD25
Ortofon S15TE
Ortofon SPUGE
Ortofon SL15E
Denon DL103
Denon DL102

Best MC I've ever heard was a Neumann DST62

[Audio Al]

Goldring Eroica L

Denon 304

Shelter 5000

[walpurgis]

Currently have:

EMT TSD15
EMT TSD15 SFL
EMT TMD 25
EMT OFD25
Ortofon S15TE
Ortofon SPUGE
Ortofon SL15E
Denon DL103
Denon DL102

Best MC I've ever heard was a Neumann DST62


Lovely collection Clark. I'm surprised you don't have a Van Den Hul in there. They're nice Euro MCs. I've sort of always associated them with EMT and Ortofon for that reason.

[oldius]

I don't understand opinion of those who say the at carts are forward sounding. I have simply never experienced that and I've had a lot of carts by different manufacturers.

I find them neutral, well made, astounding vfm with superb tracking ability. Made by boutique manufacturers that is a £1k cartridge and more in my opinion.

I've had a number of bakeoffs where experienced audio people have been shocked by what the cartridge is after they've been listening. The forwardness is one of those Internet myths that grows and grows IMO.

[walpurgis]

That's why I was asking, not having used one. I guess some people use them in systems which don't suit them, hence the impression I'd had.

[Audio Al]

forward sounding

Is that when it overhangs the end of the tone arm ;)

[paskinn]

I don't understand opinion of those who say the at carts are forward sounding. I have simply never experienced that and I've had a lot of carts by different manufacturers.

I find them neutral, well made, astounding vfm with superb tracking ability. Made by boutique manufacturers that is a £1k cartridge and more in my opinion.

I've had a number of bakeoffs where experienced audio people have been shocked by what the cartridge is after they've been listening. The forwardness is one of those Internet myths that grows and grows IMO.



Just goes to show how much tastes, and ears, differ. I haven't heard every model, but each time I do hear a sample my first impression is 'bright.' But, in fairness, I think that of quite a few Moving Coil cartridges. The tonal balance is often thin and lacking in richness and fullness. For me, AT cartridges seem firmly in that camp. Very popular and, if you like that sound, well-priced.

[walpurgis]

forward sounding

Is that when it overhangs the end of the tone arm ;)

Ah. The ever reliable Al. :lol: ;)

[oldius]

I haven't noticed the forwardness in my system Peter and my system has changed substantially with the move to the new place.
My MC's sit on a unipivot on a Garrard so perhaps that provides the balance that's required but I know of a few using the OC9 in different contexts who are very happy with their choice. In fact, several have 'down graded' to AT 0c9 carts with no loss of fidelity.

[Marco]

Hi Geoff,


I don't understand opinion of those who say the at carts are forward sounding. I have simply never experienced that and I've had a lot of carts by different manufacturers.


I get what you mean, but compare the tonal balance between your OC-9 and the DL-S1, and the former (certainly to my ears) is definitely more 'spotlit' at the top end, with a leaner overall balance.

It's like comparing Beaujolais Nouveau with Rioja Gran Riserva! ;)

Marco.

[Marco]

My current MCs....

Ortofon SPU-G/T
Denon DL-S1
Denon DL-103.

Marco.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Denon 103r
Ortofon Cadenza Black
Ortofon AG Meister SPU

[KC Jones]

I have VDH 103 (DL103), which I am finally beginning to enjoy the sound of. I shall have to treat myself to another DL103 to compare the 2.
Also a Dynavector DV20 (for future upgrade)

Would love to try loads of other types but it’s a bit of a hifi oddity, one simply can’t.

[Thebiglebowski]

Not a concise list but some of the MC's I have owned so far:

DV 20x2L
DV XX1
Bluenote Boboli (high output)
Supex SD901
Benz Micro L04
Benz Micro Ace S (M & L)
ZYX R50 Bloom (H & L)
DL103
Audio technical AT31e

Currently running a Goldring 2400 so have gone over to the darkside but very happy :)

[walpurgis]

Blimey. if I did a list (if I could remember) of all the MCs I've owned it would fill a page.

[walpurgis]

I thought I'd have a bash. These are the MCs I can remember owning. Not a definitive list, I'm sure there'll be some I've forgotten.

Ortofon MC10, MC20E, SL15E (x2), S15TE, SPU, MC25FL (x2), SL20, MC1 turbo
Talisman (can't remember model)
Osawa OS-60L
Supex SD-900
Yamaha MC-11
Transfiguration Aria
Dynavector 10x
Westrax 301
Fidelity Research MC 201 (x2)
Technics EPC-305MC
Denon DL-301, DL-304, DL-103 (x3), Dl-103R DL-110 (x2), DL-160 (x2)
Sumiko BPS
Goldring Eroica LX
Glanz GMC-10EX
ZYX R50 Bloom H, R100 H, R100 H2, R100 Yatra H.


I make that thirty eight that I've remembered (I think).


Ratings.

Fabulous: All the ZYXs

I really liked: MC25FL, SPU, Fidelity Research MC201, Technics EPC-305MC,

Not bad at all: DL-103R, Goldring Eroica LX

Total crap: MC1 Turbo, Sumiko BPS

[take5]

My current MCs.

Ortofon MC15 super 2
Linn Troika
Fidelity Research MC702
Kondo IO ( Japan )

In the last couple of years Ive also owned:
Lyra Dorian
Denon 304
Ortofon Cadenza Black

Ive enjoyed them all, with the MC702 and IO being the best Ive experienced in my system to date.

[Clive197]

It's like comparing Beaujolais Nouveau with Rioja Gran Riserva! ;)

Marco.

OMG are we discussing wine now!!!



PS: you'll never guess my cartridge.:D

[Ali Tait]

Mine-

AT31E
103r (broken)
Eroica LX
Rondo Bronze

[Barry]

Well we did until the camera boys took it over!

AT ART1
Denon DL-S1
AT 0C9ii

The art1 is the best cartridge I have heard without exception.

It's the infamous Art of Sound thread drift! :eyebrows:

[Jimbo]

MC carts i would like

Lyra delos
Denon DL -S1
Dynavector DRT - XV 1s

[Barry]

Current MC cartridges are:

EMT XSD15
EMT TSD15 (x2)
EMT TSD15 sfl (x2)
EMT TSD15 (nude) - unfortunately damaged and needs repairing (that's the risk in 'nuding' cartridges!)

Ortofon SPUG
Ortofon SL15E
Ortofon SL15E Mk.II

Denon DL103
Denon DL103 mounted in an EMT TSG headshell.



Past MCs have included an Ortofon MC20 and a Linn Asak.

MCs that I would like to hear are: the more expensive SPUs, as well as the S15TE; the Koetsu Rosewood 'Signature'; Lyra 'Parnassus' and 'Argo': an Audio Note 'IO'; the Jan Allearts MC; Van den Hul 'ONE'; a Benz design and the Audio Technica XA-1 (?) (the one where the coil/magnets are arranged 45 degree to the record surface and so mimic the arrangement of the cutter head, rather like the Alnic design).

As well as the Lumiere and Neumann DST62 cartridges (purely out of curiosity).

[Gazjam]

Just got back into vinyl after 20 odd years away.
Only ever had the one MC cart, my current Dynavector XX2 MkII, great but very low output.
Didn't want to go down the road of a SUT, so a mod to my Firebottle's MC gain (thanks Alan) took care of that.

Back in the day had a string of MM carts on my old Planar 2, A&R P77, AT95e, AT110 and finally a Goldring G1012.
Fond memories of the AT95e.

[OD1]

I have had:

Eroica LX
2 Dynavector 10X5 (snapped 1st cantilever when installing :doh:)

Currently have:

Sumiko BP2
AT OC9III

[flapland]

Currently I am using a Transfiguration Temper V although the hours are starting to add up and I suspect I will need to find another later this year.

Also have a Lyra Argo i, Benz Glider SL, nude DV 17d2 and a broken Lyra Delos. Keep meaning to send the later to NW Analogue but find other things to spend cash on.

[Ali Tait]

Mine-

AT31E
103r (broken)
Eroica LX
Rondo Bronze

And soon a DL S1.

[Gazjam]

And soon a DL S1.

Denons top of the line cart, nice.
Quite low output though Ali, you using a SUT?

[Ali Tait]

Have a couple, also the Denon head amp.

[Firebottle]

Ali, it looks like Gary's Dynavector is twice the output of your Denon, so at least the same ball park.

Your Firebottle is -1dB compared to Gary's Plus on MC, so will be interesting to see how you get on directly into the Firebottle.
The only concern will be the noise level, so suck it and see :)

[Ali Tait]

Aye, we'll see how it goes. Got two SUT's and the Denon head amp to choose from, if none of that works, can sell then all and buy SUT's that do.