Advice Needed on inexpensive MC Cartridges

[mikeyb]

I thought about suggesting the MC25FL. I have one, bought with only 50 hours on it for about £125. Like the Denon 103, I regard it as a good, 'everyday', cartridge.

The Goldring Eroica LX is good value and nicely musical. I've had one for years and like it a lot.

See, I'm learning

[Stryder5]

Another one for the Goldring Eroica LX, I have two. One with Geiger II stylus and one with Van den Hul stylus. They are both very musical.

Gary

[Lurch]

I have an Eroica L, sitting here doing nothing I would let go for £100 posted. No box or accessories, just cart and stylus guard, but would be carefully packed.

[DSJR]

Re the Eroika... Don't you chaps have handling issues with 'microphonics' with these? maybe I have the wrong model, but I do think you can get far better these days. Just my opinion of course.

I now have several friends with AT-F7's and they ALL love them - not expensive, nice diamond finish, great sonics and not temperamental or fussy! The F2 has a bonded diamond instead of the naked one on the F7. It's a long time since I heard a Hana and not in comparison with anything, but the low output? one I heard was great too.

Hope the Void delivers these days. Getting on a bit now and who knows what numpty has been at the innards in the meantime but they were bloody good at the time Hopefully less to do to it than an average geriatric knackered old fruitbox (most early 80's ones are now I gather), whomever's been at it and upgraded the parts...

[Lurch]

Used the Eroica when I snapped the stylus on my Hana (both on 100ohm) and not much to choose between them, and absolutely no issues with the Eroica. Different story though when I feed the repacent SL with 470 ohm, it was in a different league altogether, and took my current Sumiko Pearwood to show it a clean pair of heels.

[cyto]

I really like the Denon DL-301MKII and it can be had in your price range. Do some research first as some folks don't care for it.

[Fiddlefye]

What effective mass are you working with in that arm? Hard to make suggestions without knowing. Somewhere in the 11-12g range I'm guessing? If so here are a few I like- Denon DL-304, AT OC9/III, AT33PTG/II. In the "oldies" category an Ortofon Mc-10 Super might do nicely.

[ovlov854]

Bang on. The Audio Note Arm 1 V2 is 11.5 g Effective mass.
Still not quite sure what I am going to go for

BTW apologies and belated thanks to all who have made suggestions.
I'll let you know what I decide............and then if I like it

[hifi_dave]

Personally, I wouldn't go for a s/h cartridge - you never know how much wear, tear and care it's had. Instead I would go for an Audio Technica AT-F2 or AT-F7 in this price range.
Lovely cartridges with no equal at the price and you have the security of knowing it hasn't been abused.

[ovlov854]

Personally, I wouldn't go for a s/h cartridge - you never know how much wear, tear and care it's had. Instead I would go for an Audio Technica AT-F2 or AT-F7 in this price range.
Lovely cartridges with no equal at the price and you have the security of knowing it hasn't been abused.

This makes good sense and I am beginning to lean this way.