unhappy with crap sound of my turntable

[walpurgis]

Dont know what a SUT is

Step Up Transformer. Bumps up the signal from low output MCs, so they can be used into an MM input.

[surfwagon]

Yep it is an old moving iron cart. stylii are near impossible to get. it is very high compliance as well. might be best to acquire a better mm cart to get started with. low budget an at 95e or a little up the tree an ortofon 2m red.

how about (denon DL-103 0.3mv MC cartridge £126)

[Ali Tait]

Recommend one of these, very good for not a lot-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PUNTINA-AC...item3aa09226b1

[walpurgis]

how about (denon DL-103 0.3mv MC cartridge £126)

A cheaper option might be to use a half decent second hand MM phono stage into a spare 'auxiliary' input and not use the existing MC phono input. Your Ortofon is pretty old and may not be in great shape, so as Grant says a change may be worth it. You should be able to find something to suit the SME.

Can you post a photo so I can see what version of SME 3009 you have.

[walpurgis]

Recommend one of these, very good for not a lot-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PUNTINA-AC...item3aa09226b1

Acutex have a good reputation. Not tried one myself.

[RichB]

Recommend one of these, very good for not a lot-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PUNTINA-AC...item3aa09226b1

Looks similar to Ortofon OM5e Ali, sounds decent aye?

I didn't get on with the ortofon which is why I ask.

[surfwagon]

James, post a photo showing your arm and cartridge clearly. Maybe that will give us an idea. The Ariston is a good sounding turntable. You can get excellent results with it.

[IMG]M20Esuper[/IMG]

[walpurgis]

Dud link James.

[surfwagon]

Also check my ebay item no (141521101827) for more pictures of myRD11s and tonearm.

[walpurgis]

That's the fixed headshell version SME. It's quite a low mass arm and only suited to what are described as highish compliance cartridges (usually MMs). You would not want to use the average MC in it. It would sound thin and bright.

This would suit the arm and probably not cost a fortune: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Sh...item2c96f0a804

Quite a pleasant sounding cartridge the M75 series Shures (I prefer them to the M series Ortofons). The seller has a good reputation.