Senior Member
Location: belgrade serbia
Posts: 840
I'm gordan.
a very decent shelter 201 is currently 12,000 yen from soundheights.co.jp, a reputed seller. that's under 80 quid at the moment, hard to beat. has a bit of rich and warm mids and not a big HF extension, but for money, it's pretty much a no brainer. a shame it costs 3x more in europe, if you find one.
info@soundheights.co.jp is email addy
Gordan.
Speakers: Oris Swing MkII
Amps: Thomas Mayer 300b/ Hiraga La Maison de L'Audiophile 20
Preamp: Silver AVC by eng. Ferenc Lazar
Phono Preamp: Shishido LCR by Solaja Audio
Decks: Garrard 301 Martin Bastin reworked/plinthed with Fidelity Research FR64fx
Garrard 401 in eng Ferenc Lazar solid wenge plinth with SME 3012/2
Cartridges: SPU Spirit/ Koetsu Black revisited by eng. Salai/ Miyajima Shilabe
Step Up Transformers: Tango MCT 999/ Ortofon T-5000/ Lumiere SUT
Digital: Shigaclone by eng. Ferenc Lazar with Lampizator Amber II
Wires: of sufficient length
Moderator & Terminator!
Location: N E Kent
Posts: 51,626
I'm Geoff.
Aren't those related to the Sumiko MM's?
Senior Member
Location: Telemark, Norway
Posts: 139
I'm Johan.
That's right. They come from the Excel ES-700 - family. You can have the cheapest ES-700 for less than 50£, and put on a better stylus. Then you have a great cart!Originally Posted by walpurgis
Senior Member
Location: belgrade serbia
Posts: 840
I'm gordan.
Correct, just as many other Excel Sound Corporation produced MMs in last 30 years, like Sumiko, A&R, Garrott etc etc.... Mind that stylus are not always interchangeable and you will need to hack them, but it shouldn't be a big work if you have a bit of tools and a good magnifier...
Gordan.
Speakers: Oris Swing MkII
Amps: Thomas Mayer 300b/ Hiraga La Maison de L'Audiophile 20
Preamp: Silver AVC by eng. Ferenc Lazar
Phono Preamp: Shishido LCR by Solaja Audio
Decks: Garrard 301 Martin Bastin reworked/plinthed with Fidelity Research FR64fx
Garrard 401 in eng Ferenc Lazar solid wenge plinth with SME 3012/2
Cartridges: SPU Spirit/ Koetsu Black revisited by eng. Salai/ Miyajima Shilabe
Step Up Transformers: Tango MCT 999/ Ortofon T-5000/ Lumiere SUT
Digital: Shigaclone by eng. Ferenc Lazar with Lampizator Amber II
Wires: of sufficient length
Moderator & Terminator!
Location: N E Kent
Posts: 51,626
I'm Geoff.
I bought an Excel MM new a few years ago. Can't recall the model, but it wasn't the ES-700. It was a damn good sounding cartridge, one of the few MM's to come close to my ADC's.
Senior Member
Location: Telemark, Norway
Posts: 139
I'm Johan.
Probably the ES-70.
New Member
Location: Ipswich, UK
Posts: 14
I'm Paul.
Haven't read the whole thread but don't dismiss whichever Nagaoka fits your budget. Mp300 probably, but been a fan since the mp50 back at the beginning of th 80s. They've got more expensive over the years but still worth a look.
New outfit for me Gordan, some juicy stuff there thanks for the tip.
Senior Member
Location: Liverpool, UK.
Posts: 1,228
I'm Geoff.
The VMS30 is a fantastic cartridge and is really a 2M Black.
The best I heard was an ADC ZLM. Bloody hell that was good. In fact, I still have it as a back up. If only I had an arm that it suited!
Main system: Sony TTS8000; AT1010; Audio Technica Art1; The Lentek; Cambridge 851n, Yamaha NS1000.
System 2 - SBT; Technics SH-X1000 DAC; Denon PMA-850
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