Musical mm-cart to be used with a Croft Riaa RS?

[Rosewind]

I have a Croft Riaa R that I am going to upgrade to RS status this coming September.

This decision has made me wonder if an mm-cart could be found that would be able to give me much of what I have with my Benz Micro Gullwing SLR.

I have never really used mm-carts in the past but with an mm-stage as good as a Croft Riaa RS, perhaps I won't miss very much if I find a nice one. I have only owned 4 carts - well 5 counting in a Stanton mm on the turntable I shared with my brother until 1983:
- Ortofon MC200 (still around somewhere)
- Ortofon MC 30 Super ii (given to a friend)
- Denon 103R (sold off)
- Benz Micro Gullwing SLR (bought in 2017)

Any suggestions for a nice mm if I go that route?

[Opti-cal]

Hi Peter,

some nice kit you have.


Not sure you're going to get that close to the Benz Micro with most MM carts but I would suggest auditioning the following:


- Nagaoka MP-200 and 300 - Great all round sound, very balanced. Good bass.

- Audio Technica AT-VM750SH (some find it bright but in the right setup its lovely) - I think they do a micro line version that is superb too.

- Goldring 1042 - Quite warm and musical. Maybe too warm in some systems.

- Ortofon 2M Black - Neutral with very good detail. Has a "lively" sound occasionally bright.

- The Vessel R3SM - Never heard this one but seems to get high praise (although a little more expensive).


I've owned (or heard for long periods) all of the above apart from "The Vessel R3SM" and would confidently say one of them would float your boat.

Used them between Linn LP12 (Ittok III), Pro-ject 2.9 wood and an Audio Technica LP5 turntables, so checking the compliance with your Thorens is certainly a good idea.

Sorry I cannot advise anything specific to your turntable/arm, I'm sure there are those here that can though.

Good luck.

Chris

[mikeyb]

You could try the Shure 55/Jico SAS that I'm selling, very close to 2M Black for under £150

[graham67]

Also add the Audio Note IQ2, IQ3.
Personally i really like the at 150Sa which is virtually identical to the 750SH mentioned above.

[Opti-cal]

Might also be worth looking at Sumiko Amethyst. Haven't heard one myself but any other Sumiko carts have always sounded good to me.

Recommendation for the Audio Note IQ range looks a good one. Aren't they Goldring's built to AN specs?

Had the AT150mlx also, a really great cartridge. Sold it with a TT - wish I hadn't.

[Rosewind]

Interesting suggestions! Thanks.

I am aware of Benz Micro lHIGH MC options also but I doubt that I will be able to pay for those at the moment. My (fairly) local dealer has an Acoustical Systems Fideles at around 700£ - quite a bit more than the Sumiko, Ortofon, Audio Note and Audio Technica carts you mention.

I will have to see which budget I will have at my disposal. Then I will have to see if I can listen to them.

[Yomanze]

Reson Reca if you can find one, probably Audio Note IQ if not, or maybe a Roksan Corus as another improved Goldring G1042 cart.

[montesquieu]

MikeyB's M55 Jico fits the bill and would be better than most suggestions here.

AN IQ2 or IQ3 if you want to spend a lot more money.

[REXTON]

B have to agree the m55 and jico stylus c combo is hard to beat you could easily shift it on

[Bigbird]

Just a couple of other curveball suggestions to throw out there that havent been mentioned. The new top of the range MOFI cart seems to get a lot of good press but ive never heard one. Soundsmith carts are also very good. Just not sure if these could quite get to the Benz level?? Why not invest in a step up instead of cart?


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