First MC cartridge

[rusty bearing]

I currently have a 2M black mounted on an Origin Live Onyx, in turn attached to a birch ply plinthed Lenco GL75. The 2m stylus is about ready for renewal but in itself is nearly 400. I do sometimes find the 2m a little 'cold' I suppose might be one way of putting it.
So I've been pondering adding a bit to the budget and fancy trying an MC cartridge, the Hana SL from much reading and so on seems to fit the bill and won't break the bank. The fact that it's low output isn't a problem as I use an Electrocomaniet ECP1 phono stage which caters for both MM and MC.

Opinions/advice welcome :)

[Barry]

The Hana MC cartridges do get good reviews from all quarters. Whilst I have no experience of them, were I looking to buy an MC cartridge I would most certainly consider the Hana range.

[Lurch]

You won't go far wrong with the SL as long as you can give it 400+ Ohms. Whilst it will play happily at the std 100 Ohms most fixed load mc stages come with it really comes on song with the higher setting.
If you are stuck with a fixed 100 Ohms then I would look at either the AT OC9xML, Ortofon Quintet range (you will get a PX value for your 2M) or Goldring Eroica Lx.

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[rusty bearing]

Yes, the ECP1 is fixed. I've not come across the AT or Eroica but did think about the Quintet range. The blue is very reasonable pricewise but i though that might just be a sideways move. The bronze, well just trying not to spend that much but a trade in might make it more attractive.
Thanks for the suggestions, more research to pass the dark winter months

[Stryder5]

I have a Goldring Eroica L with Van den Hul stylus and Eroica LX with Gieger II stylus, they don’t seem to be mentioned that much, very musical cartridges in my opinion.

Gary

[walpurgis]

I have a Goldring Eroica L with Van den Hul stylus and Eroica LX with Gieger II stylus, they don’t seem to be mentioned that much, very musical cartridges in my opinion.

Gary

I like them too.

[rusty bearing]

i like the idea of 'musicality'. Should probably have said as well that most, OK alll my vinyl is 60's and 70's pop and rock although I've got a bit mellower nowadays (Hawkwind doesn't get much of an airing) and I play a lot of more acoustic style stuff.
Agreed you don't seem to see much about the Goldring cartridges, wonder why?

When the 2m wears out the stylus is replaceable, when an MC wears out do you, as I've seen, buy a new one with a discount for the old or get it retipped? What's the cost of retippping?
Apologies if that last is a numpty question but i've seen mention of these things in discussions but being in the MM owners camp glossed over them.

[Stryder5]

Cartridges, as with most things, tend to be in or out of trend depending on marketing etc.

Retipping or rebuilding as necessary is probably £300 ish, as you say trade in is available from most manufacturers at advantageous cost.

Keep your records clean, if you don’t have a record cleaning machine get one. Manual ones are less than £100. Stylus life is dependant on many things but 1000 hrs plus.

Gary

Eroica will be happy at 100ohms.

Certainly not sterile or cold

[rusty bearing]

Thanks Stryder, that doesn't seem unreasonable pricewise.
I was fortunate enough to get an unwanted Moth kit form another forum member, does the job admirably if noisily. Makes a difference to those old albums. I had a really filthy mono copy of 'Satanic Majesties Request' which was unplayable. Couple of cleaning sessions and while not perfect it plays through fine.

[willbewill]

I use a Quintet Blue and am very happy with it but I weighed up the cost of replacing the cart every couple of years (at least) against cost of more expensive offerings. It suits my musical listening tastes nowadays which are mainly blues and electronic based, it is definitely more 'laid back' than the 2m Black which has amazing detail.

[rusty bearing]

Hiya Malcom, it's your origin Live that whatever I get will be fitted to, proved to be an excellent tonearm on my Lenco as well
Valid point on costs of replacement which is why i would like to keep around the 500 mark, anything else I couldn't really justify. Mind you I'd drop 3-4k on a new bike if I needed one tommorrow.
The 2M is very very good but I would like to try an MC, anyway my list of contenders is narrowing.

[CageyH]

The important thing is to try and listen to a cartridge before making a purchase. It really is a matter of personal taste and if it gels with your system, so really difficult to recommend one.

More for the list of cartridges to consider:

Hana SL
DV 20X2L
Benz Micro Ace L
AT 33PTG/II
AT33EV

[rusty bearing]

Yes, the sound is a very subjective thing, you'll get a glowing review of a cart from A and somewhere else 'it's rubbish from' B. There's so much choice it's hard to know where to start so the suggestions have been really useful.
Next is to find a good local dealer or two near Chorley and hopefully have a listen to some on the shortlist.

[Pigmy Pony]

Yes, the sound is a very subjective thing, you'll get a glowing review of a cart from A and somewhere else 'it's rubbish from' B. There's so much choice it's hard to know where to start so the suggestions have been really useful.
Next is to find a good local dealer or two near Chorley and hopefully have a listen to some on the shortlist.

I don't know what dealers we have near Chorley any more (I live in Chorley). Audio T in Preston has gone apparently. You could come over and listen to my cartridge, but it too is a 2M Black :doh:

[rusty bearing]

I don't know what dealers we have near Chorley any more (I live in Chorley). Audio T in Preston has gone apparently. You could come over and listen to my cartridge, but it too is a 2M Black :doh:

Ahh if only you had an MC to compare, I would have brought biscuits!
So far Wilkinsons in Nelson and Doug Brady in Wigan.....not going anywhere near Manchester

[Haselsh1]

Id love to know just what it is that gives moving coils such a beautiful, lush midrange. I've had experience of a few during my time with hi-fi and their sound is generally stunning.

[AJSki2fly]

Have a word with Ammonite Audio, they are very helpful and used to have several loan cartridges, they sell Hana and used to offer discount to AoS members.

Personally I would try the Phasemation PP-300, maybe a but more cost but really is VGFM.

I also tried the Hana ML and it was good but th PP-300 was better IMO.

[rusty bearing]

Have a word with Ammonite Audio, they are very helpful and used to have several loan cartridges, they sell Hana and used to offer discount to AoS members.

Personally I would try the Phasemation PP-300, maybe a but more cost but really is VGFM.

I also tried the Hana ML and it was good but th PP-300 was better IMO.

Ta that's usefu to know, I'll look them up.

[supapeet]

Doug Brady in Warrington are very good they allowed me to audition 3 cartridges on my own turntable and phono stage

[rusty bearing]

Doug Brady in Warrington are very good they allowed me to audition 3 cartridges on my own turntable and phono stage

Ta muchly, I'll probably been giving them a call in the new year. I've decided to take my time auditioning and if I can do it at home on my own kit, so much the better. Just cleaned and playing Dire Straits 'Communique' excellent album to listen to and probably as a test record :)

[rusty bearing]

Ah well the deed is done, I did settle on the Hana Sl which I rather liked but as someone pointed out early on my phon amp being fixed at 100 ohm wasn't going to make it sing. What is a body to do......After some reviewing and all the usual stuff I found an Exposure XM3 ex demo at £220 below market, took a punt and bought it. Just popped it into my existing system with the 2M black expecting not much difference.......damn, it's defo better than the ECP1, sounds more open somehow, notes sound cleaner

[AJSki2fly]

Ah well the deed is done, I did settle on the Hana Sl which I rather liked but as someone pointed out early on my phon amp being fixed at 100 ohm wasn't going to make it sing. What is a body to do......After some reviewing and all the usual stuff I found an Exposure XM3 ex demo at £220 below market, took a punt and bought it. Just popped it into my existing system with the 2M black expecting not much difference.......damn, it's defo better than the ECP1, sounds more open somehow, notes sound cleaner

The XM3 is a nice bit of kit, should sound good with the Hana.

[rusty bearing]

It is that but there is a problem.....now I'm wonderng what the XM5 amp would sound like and whether I could persuade SWMBO that a man in a red suit just left it on the doorstep :santa:

[worrasf]

I've been buying/listening/swapping HiFi for nigh on 50 years (I'm 65) and I've still not got it figured out although I've "probably" got the system as close to my liking as I'm going to get. One of the many things I've learned is give or take every component is affected by others up and downstream and thus so is the resulting sound. Another thing I've learned (which follows from the above) is that recommendations can only be a guide - not least as sound appreciation is so individual and subjective - one man's meat etc etc so you are bang on getting auditions before parting with your hard earned cash. If you can get home auditions in your own system ala Hugo at Ammonite then it doesn't get much better

Perhaps the biggest lesson is that it's not helpful (IMO) to compare cartridges in isolation to the phono stage/SUT (and tonearm for that matter) they are going to be partnered with.

I have found that the combination that produces the sound I like best across all the musical genres I listen to is a Denon DL-160 in a Mission 774 tonearm into a Rothwell MC1-H SUT/Firebottle Vibrant phono stage combo. I've tried far more expensive cartridges (Goldbug Brier for example) newer and more expensive tonearms and they just don't match up. Marco's synergy personified.

Anyway, just my two pennies on a rainy night. Hope you continue to enjoy the tunes from your new cartridge/phonostage.





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[rusty bearing]

Wise words...I learn't quite early on that listening at the dealers was no substitute for 'at home'. Currently a 'happy bunny' playing lots of vinyl while the Cd's languish in the hidden world that is the cupboard under the stairs.
Have I reached my personal audio Nirvana? Within what i'm prepared to spend probably I'm not far off so it's time to sit back in the evenings, pour a glass of 25 year old Glen Sporangie and just relax.
Thanks to everyone who contributed and happy new year to all :)