Please, Cartridge Recommendation

[Meloski]

Hi All,

I've been looking at a lot of cartridges lately. I feel I am ready to move up to a MC cartridge for my SL1200mk2. With a low effective mass tonearm 12g, I will need a high compliance cartridge. I have a Lehmann Black Cube Statement phono stage which should handle just about everything. My desires in this new cartridge are a deep broad soundstage with good separation and detail. I do like the sound from my AT440MLa (The only decent cartridge i've ever owned) But I think it's time to explore a bit. I would like to keep the price below $600.00 US (400.00 GBP)

Thank you,

Michael

[ChrisKemp]

Hi. Instead of buying a cheaper MC, I would rather recommend a top of the line MM. For the Technics arm: Ortofon 2M Black or Nagaoka MP-500.

[CageyH]

SAE1000LT

[jandl100]

Denon 103R or a rebodied 103 (like the Zu Audio version).

Dynavector 10X5 (high output MC)

-- in my view, moving from a good MM cartridge to an MC you need to make sure you don't lose out on the dynamic strengths of the MM.
All 3 of those above have plenty of drive, some lower price MCs can sound a bit lightweight and may not satisfy.

[dhemen]

I moved from mm to denon 103R recently. I think 103 series sound really good. Alive, very detailed and warm sound. 103R has low complience cart but it works great with my 10 g tonearm.
Other nice thing about 103 is that you can modify it.
-use different body
- add mass on top to increase the complience

[Haselsh1]

Not too sure how much use my comment is going to be but I am in exactly your boat. I am currently using a medium compliance Ortofon OM40 but would like to test the water and move up. I am only really considering an Ortofon 2M Black at this moment in time as I think I would be better staying with high quality moving magnets. My personal opinion, for what it is worth, moving coil cartridges especially really good ones command a really good price. Really good moving magnets are relatively cheap in comparison. I will therefore stay with cutting edge moving magnets.

[Meloski]

Please help me understand this compliance number spec. for a DL-103R

Compliance: 5x10-6cm/dyne

With regards to compliance I understand a 10 is low whereas 30 would be high. But what does the above number mean?

Also when comparing cartridges what other specs should I concern myself with?

[dhemen]

Have a look at this.
http://www.theanalogdept.com/cartridge___arm_matching.htm

Then put your values in to the formulation to see if the cart and tonearm have a good match or not.
In my case (in most of people as well) it is out of the best resonant frequency range. Its because most of the modern tonearms are designed as low mass and denon 103 series had been build in 60s when high mass tonearms were in use.
I havent tried it yet but my plan is to change the cart body with a heavier one. This new body with wood or other materials also eliminates the undesired vibration.

You should also check the output level of the cart. Your phono stage should handle this.
103R needs a phono stage with min 60db as far as i remember. Or you need a step up to get this value.

[kcc123]

I consider most of the modern tonearms are medium mass. Low mass tonearms, for examples, the Black widow(4.25g), Mission 774 (5g), SME series 2 non detachable (6g), SME series 3 (4.5g) and Audio Technica AT 1120 (5g) etc., are no longer made by any manufacturers as modern cartridges are not very compliant at all. :)

[walpurgis]

But older high compliance cartridges that suit them can be extremely good.

[kcc123]

Yes, I agree with you for that.

[walpurgis]

Yes, I agree with you for that.

I still have a collection of late sixties and early seventies high compliance ADC cartridges. They sound very nice indeed.

[Meloski]

When I plug in the numbers for the Orfton 2M Black the results are outside the ideal range of 8-12hz coming in at 7.73hz, lower than ideal. Would it be better to err on the low side rather than the high?

[walpurgis]

That doesn't seem like much of a discrepancy. I wouldn't worry. If you're using it in a Technics arm it should be fine. It could be beneficial to experiment with a heavier headshell.

[kcc123]

I think you should get a cartridge with a compliance lower than the 2M Black (22cu) and a Denon 103R would be ideal.

[kcc123]

I still have a collection of late sixties and early seventies high compliance ADC cartridges. They sound very nice indeed.

I also own quite a few high compliance ADC and Sonus Gold Blue cartridges as well.

[Barry]

When I plug in the numbers for the Orfton 2M Black the results are outside the ideal range of 8-12hz coming in at 7.73hz, lower than ideal. Would it be better to err on the low side rather than the high?

In a word yes - but not too low, otherwise depending on how the deck/arm is supported and what your floor is made of, you could have problems with footfalls.

Using a heavier headshell will cause the resonant frequency to lower, something you don't want. You need the opposite, a lighter headshell.

Remember your figure of 7.73 is a calculated figure - the only real way of determining the arm/cartridge resonance is to use an appropriate test record. But I wouldn't worry about it. All that matters is what it sounds like to you! :)

[ChrisKemp]

I had a 2M Black with my Isokinetik 750D tonearm with fluid damping. The 2M Black sounded fantastic!!!