Chasm of Cartridges

[MartinT]

Have you compared it to any SPU? Have also been thinking of a 90th Anniv.

Not directly, but I've had Marco's SPU in my system a couple of times and it's a tremendous cartridge. We'll be comparing the SPU and Shelter possibly later this year.

[kcc123]

I remember the M20 FL Super as an outstanding cartridge, had one about 30 years ago and wish I'd kept it.

Hi John,

The Ortofon M20 FL Super is indeed an outstanding cartridge which I have two samples of it. One is a new old stock, which I bought last year and also is shown in the picture, has a silver colour body, but the other one which I have had for years has a golden colour body and a capacitor at the back.

The picture of the other one





New old stock one

[prestonchipfryer]

Hi John,

The Ortofon M20 FL Super is indeed an outstanding cartridge which I have two samples of it. One is a new old stock, which I bought last year and also is shown in the picture, has a silver colour body, but the other one which I have had for years has a golden colour body and a capacitor at the back.

The picture of the other one





New old stock one

Mine, I remember, was gold bodied. And the cap 210, yes had one (it was used on a VMS 20E. Blimey, that's years ago! Where did you get the NOS FL20?

Cheers

[kcc123]

Hi John,

I got it from williamthakker on eBay but I don’t think they are available any more.

[DSJR]

My M20 FL Super stylus came from William Thakker too. This is one Ortofon which does seem to require a higher mass arm for the bass to breathe properly. Lovely precise sound, but needs care on initial setup I think.

For anyone wanting a lovely sweet but clear cartridge for a lower mass arm/vintage SME, the standard M20E Super is a delight and IMO a big improvement over the slightly clogged sounding VMS30E, which I also have.

Here's some of my cartridges from a piccie taken a few years ago -

[kcc123]

Hi Dave,

The M20E Super is no doubt a better sounding cartridge and so is the 530mk2.

Ortofon 530 mk2


Ortofon VMS 30 mk2

[DSJR]

I wonder why the excellent M20FL Super was all but replaced by the VMS30, which had much higher compliance and a soggy bass little better than the ancient VMS20 or M15E. I have a couple of 500 bodies, one with the excellent heavy duty GT stylus and the other one waiting........ Aren't the 500's now the Vinyl Master series? - another bloody excuse for a price rise

[WOStantonCS100]

Hmmmm.... methinks there are people holding out on us. Where are the action shots of those vintage Goldrings and such?

BTW: Nice collection, Dave... and hearty thanks to everyone who's chimed in thus far!!!

[MartinT]

My previous Dynavector DV-20X2L

[kcc123]

Stilton Nagaoka MP11


Pickering UV-15


Stanton 681EE


Stanton 681EEE


Golding Elektra


Golding 1042