Bargains on ebay?

Yes it is!

I have a soft spot for the BD1 anyway. It can sound very good set up properly. I still have one tucked away.

Anyone have any thoughts on the modestly priced Sumiko mm cartridges available?

I still can't over the Ortofon VMS 20E now costing £90 - £120. I remember getting them from Hyper-Fi for £25!

Kind Regards,
Stephen

Sumiko high output MCs should be cheap. Have you tried one? I thought the Blue Point was pretty grotty and I'm not sure why anybody would want an Ortofon VMS 20 apart from the tracking ability. Its not exactly dynamic, a decent old ADC will run absolute circles round it. I have compared them.

Thanks Geoff.

No, I haven't heard any Sumiko cartridges. I was just a bit surprised to see mm types relatively cheap. I think they're called Pearl and Black Pearl at about £60 and £90 I think.

I used the VMS 20 in the late '70s and '80s as it was reasonably priced and regarded at the time. I did have an ADC XLM, III, I think once which I quite liked. Not sure what happened to it. Must have given it away. I do have a QLM 34 and was wondering if an XLM stylus could be used. Physically it might fit but was thinking the XLM body might be higher speced.

An A&R Cambridge P77 was the last cartridge I got. I did used to fancy a ADC 126 one time but never saw any for sale.

Kind Regards,
Stephen

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUMIKO-Bla...item3cc9d3353c

Here is a link to the Sumiko on eBay - from the spec just a bog standard cheap MM, spherical tip. The silver front with black lettering is very tacky in a bad seventies/Robin's Nest sort of way

This one for a little bit more money looks a lot better from the spec. Response down to 12 Hz?! Still got the Robin's Nest font though..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUMIKO-Pea...item3cc9d3353d

Seller also has a Grado selection. Load of vinyl as well.

I believe Sumiko share their MM cartridge designs with Clearaudio and both have parallel models. I'd sooner have one of these than the Sumiko high output MCs.

If somebody must have a high output MC, they should track down a new (old stock) or used Denon DL-160 (not a DL-110), at least they are capable and sound pleasant or perhaps a Dynavector would suit.

I did well today for a change. Won a nice Mission '775' Turntable £40.00 I always liked these decks :)

Ah, that was a good price. I've always fancied trying one.