CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 2649 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

As some of you may know I was selling a few turntables I had around here, luckily of which they all had no problem selling. I used some of that money to buy a "new (to me)" Pioneer Series 20 PLC-590 turntable. This particular turntable from pioneer comes from the factory with no tonearm/cartridge so the owner can choose what they would like to install on the table.

Well Im pretty much set in getting the Pioneer PA-1000 carbon fiber tonearm for the table (since that is the series 20 tonearm pioneer made for the PLC-590 as an option). So that leaves a cartridge and Stylus.

I have tried pickering, Grado, Shure, Staton, OEMs, of those I would say the Stantons and Shure's were the best, but for this turntable I want something BRAND NEW.

So with all these new manufacturers (or at least high end ones and ones I've never heard of) I am left wondering what brand to choose.

I'm looking for something that can reproduce very deep lows, as well as have detailed highs and an overall full sound from the cartridge. My problem with Grado is the highs were lacking to my ear, and Im very picky when it comes to my vinyl (who in this hobby isn't? Razz

)

So within the pricerange of $500-$750 for a NEW cartridge & stylus what would some of you choose?

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Sumiko Blu Point EvoIII.

I have it . Got it from the Needle Doctor.

Or look at the higher end Denon cart. I forgot the model. But Soundsmith sells them as well and do some custom
Work and rebuilds of MC carts.

Athanasios

nettwerkjohn · Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 7:18 pm Post subject:

ortofon kontrapunkt a. i have one, they sound amazing. smooth, detailed, not too heavy, not too light, very special k.

you should be able to get one in your price range...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ortofon-MC-Kontrapunkt-A-Moving-Coil-cartridge-NEW-/120491782229?pt=US_Record_Player_Turntable_Parts&hash=item1c0ddeb055

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Here is the link to the denon's from Sound Smith. this guy is an artisan when it comes to Phono cartidges and pre amps.

http://www.sound-smith.com/denon/index.html

They have new un modified and a list of modified.

The 103 is highly regarded, the$ 479 modified model is well with in your price range.

I have a lower end Dl-110 that i really like on my AR XA turntable.

Athanasios

CxTurbo · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 425 Location: Ontario, Canada

Don't forget the Ortofon 2M Black as well.

James

stridsvognen · Guest

If Denon go for the DL304. The DL 103 models have their limitations, they all use same cheep stylus. So if you want to track High frequenc clean.. look for the sharpest stylus possible.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 2649 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

Thanks for all the suggestions so far guys. Nashou, I am surprised you mentioned sumiko, I have seen a few of them in the MusicDirect catalog I have, they sound like pretty good cartridges.

As for the Denons, I have read a LOT about the DL-103R, can't say the same for the 304, but its nice to hear that the Denons might be worth checking out.

I'm also glad to hear about ortofon, that Kontrapunkt is the older series that was replaced by their newer series (I forgot what it is) but I read that the kontrapunkt are supposed to be some nice units.

I will research some of these cartridges you have all mentioned, too bad there isnt a place that can do a try before you buy around here!

Liking the suggestions so far!! keep them coming

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 2649 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

Thanks for all the suggestions so far guys. Nashou, I am surprised you mentioned sumiko, I have seen a few of them in the MusicDirect catalog I have, they sound like pretty good cartridges.

As for the Denons, I have read a LOT about the DL-103R, can't say the same for the 304, but its nice to hear that the Denons might be worth checking out.

I'm also glad to hear about ortofon, that Kontrapunkt is the older series that was replaced by their newer series (I forgot what it is) but I read that the kontrapunkt are supposed to be some nice units.

I will research some of these cartridges you have all mentioned, too bad there isnt a place that can do a try before you buy around here!

Liking the suggestions so far!! keep them coming

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

If looking at MM carts there is the Acutex STR312 or STR 320 are really nice, but try to find one. they are out of business but the cart bring a premium if you find one. I got lucky and one came on a AR XA I got for 80 bucks. I could sell the cart for 300 !

It actually does well against my DL 110, maybe a better. And this is a MM. I usually don't like them.

Athanasios

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

On Audio Karma I posted about the Acutex and some info on it.

I can't find it but there was a guy on Audiogon forum who is a cart nut. He has done comaprisons on hundreds of carts and he really loves this cart and puts it up against many higher priced MC carts.

But here is the other info.

dvh99 · Joined: 25 Dec 2009 Posts: 2158 Location: nederland

well get them for 50 bucks, seems very interesting and even more if they are up to par with e.g. an expensive ortofon cart.
i might get one too to play around with but i still have a hard time believing they are as good as mc carts.

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 2649 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

Thats quite the read there Nash, and very informative too!

I do have a question regarding moving coil cartridges though. I haven't had the chance to use one mainly for the fact that you need a step up transformer and/or? preamp for them.

Now heres the deal, since I have started putting this system together, the Integrated amp in this system has a switch for moving magnetic cartridges or you can flip it to moving coil. Now, with that do I need a step up transformer still? Or is my preamp able to do that?

I would love to try a MC cartridge, I have had loads of MM ones and wouldn't mind hearing what a MC can do.

And Nash, that Acutex you got on your AR TT for $80, thats how I got my Grado Prestige Gold 1 I sold, it came on a Dual 1225 TT I bought for $15 because the plinth was cracked. Didn't even notice the cartridge on it until I got home!

Thats not the first time I've wound up with higher quality cartridges on low priced tables either, same thing happened with a Pioneer PL-2 I bought, came with a Pickering XSV3000, that was a nice MM cartridge too.

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 2649 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

For reference, here is the amp, the switch is the one closest to the selector knob.

stridsvognen · Guest

If you really want a top end MC system, then you should go for a high compliant system, and the Denon DL 304 is the entrance to that world, with a SME Series III arm. And personally i'm not a fan of stepup transformers.. Ill always prefer the active stepup solution. And look for a stepup with most load impedance options, its very important to a high compliant system.. A DL304 have a generator impedance around 40ohm, and will perform best loaded around 120 ohm + - some.

If going with a DL103 model.. moddet or not your going into low compliant system, and they are not so sensitive to load, and will never give you the high frequency performance as a high compliant solution.

You need to decide if you like adjusting your setup, to perform, or your more into plug and play solutions.

Sharper stylus and higher compliance = more sensitive system, and your skills will come to the test.. Wink

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 2649 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

Well, in search of MC cartridges, I have found a Sumiko EVO III, I particularly like the channel separation and frequency response:

Cartridge Type: HO MC
Frequency Response: 12Hz-50KHz
Output Voltage: 2.5mV
Channel Separation: 35db
Channel Balance: 0.5db
Compliance: 12
Stylus Size: 0.3μx0.7μ
Stylus Shape: Elliptical
Load Impedance: 47kΩ
Tracking Force Range: 1.7-2.1 grams
Recommended Force: 2.0 grams
Weight: 8.3 grams

stridsvognen · Guest

Thats a High output MC pickup, and you will not need the MC stepup. With the Elliptical stylus and the compliance, it should be more or less plug and play.

I'm sure its nice for lots of rock pop records from different periods.

Whats the arm mass of the arm your going to use.? I think this one will work well with a mass around 12-15g

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

I loved my Evo III before I bent the tip Sad

Especially on Jazz. It does well with all music tho.

I plan on sending it to Sound-Smith for the ruby arm re tip. They do some amazing work.

Boilermaker just got one of his MC's re-tiped. If forgot which re tip grade he got but he told me its way better than the original.

Athanasios

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 2649 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

The thing I like about Needle Doctor is they have an upgrade program. that is how I got my Evo. I have a blue point SPecial, the upgrade cost me 299. I had the Special for about 3 years before I made the upgrade. Its a used cart but they re tip it with original cantilever and tips.

I can't wait to send it to Sound Smith. They test it all over and will do any repairs they can, and usually make it better than original.

Athanasios