Whats the prettiest cartridge

[Barry]

Rather a plain looking cartridge is the Audio-Technica AT66, It's a very old budget cartridge, but sounds pretty good. Anyone any experience of these?

I had one back in 1970. It was the Grado FTE+1 of its day, that is incredible value for money.

[RobbieGong]

Ortofon Anniversary - A95


A95-side-510x510 by Robert Rowe, on Flickr

A95-front-510x510 by Robert Rowe, on Flickr

A95-510x510 by Robert Rowe, on Flickr

[spendorman]

I had one back in 1970. It was the Grado FTE+1 of its day, that is incredible value for money.

Thank you, I have two of them, not much info around. My two have different diameter styli, can't remember the figures.

[Marco]

I once used a Linn 'Asak'. Looked virtually identical to the 'Trak'.

Don't like the look of any of the stone-bodied Koetsus: the wood-bodied versions and the black Urushi samples are more to my visual tastes (but even the latter are verging on the wrong side of 'bling').

I Know, I remember... At the time, the Asak was higher up the range, and I think used a better generator, or possibly stylus.

I know what you mean about the Koetsus, but I see them more as 'jewels' (depicting my favourite colours), so in that case I don't mind a bit of bling!

In any case, I thought you'd have commented on all the SPU, Deccas, EMTs, Supex, and not forgetting the iconic Pierre Clément!

MArco.

[Marco]

Ortofon Anniversary - A95


A95-side-510x510 by Robert Rowe, on Flickr

A95-front-510x510 by Robert Rowe, on Flickr

A95-510x510 by Robert Rowe, on Flickr

Yes I can see it's 'sculptural appeal', Rob, but it's a little too modern looking for my tastes in cartridges. If it's an Ortofon, give me a nice big PHAT SPU any day!

Marco.

[Barry]

Yup, Mike, you're right. And I knew that, but somehow got sucked into the Lyra thing! Yes, the Jade is class. Just a lovely rich colour!

Now this will likely divide opinion (I think Jerry will hate it, lol), but I simply ADORE the chunky, bean-can looks of the Pierre Clément:





Prefer it, though, in red:





I just love fat-assed cartridges, especially when built into their own headshell, as I hate seeing ugly wires, screws and bolts! Just plug it into a suitable tonearm, and you're away!

Looks rather purposeful too, when 'on duty', mounted on a tonearm:





Marco.

FYI: https://theartofsound.net/forum/show...Pierre-Clément

[Marco]

I still use the Ortofon MC200 'Concord' - looks very similar, apart from the finger lift which is black and affixed to the body with two screws. (And being an MC obviously doesn't have a user replaceable stylus.)

Again I can appreciate the visual appeal of something so slim and sleek, but I'm afraid it's the wrong shape for me, as I prefer a nice fat arse!

Marco.

[Marco]

FYI: https://theartofsound.net/forum/show...Pierre-Clément

Interesting stuff, Barry. And yes, I'd seen it in the Library before

Btw, the last link in that page to 'Audio 16' no longer goes anywhere - simply to a blank page on the website concerned.

Marco.

[Barry]

Now for some Decca lurveliness:









Love ALL that stuff, especially the FFSS!

Marco.

There is something satisfying in the understated look of those Decca 'heads' (the Mk.I, II, III and (S)H4E). I have a Mk.III, shown in the first photo.

[Marco]

Yes, that's my favourite. Nice one

I just much prefer 'enclosed' type cartridges like that (and the likes of SPUs), as I think they look much nicer on the end of an arm, than their 'exposed' counterparts, fixed to a standard headshell, where one can see all the ugly lead wires and mounting hardware (nuts and bolts).

Marco.