New turntable or new cartridge?

Hi all, I recently found a Fisher MT-6331.
What do you think about that TT? I searched the internet but i haven't found any review or opinion... So someone knows if the Fisher MT-6331 is a "good" TT?

I use the "default" cartridge and a Sanyo ST-44D stylus!

It's a better idea to change the whole turntable or only the cartridge? (i have a small budget...)

What do you think about the Ortofon 2M red? It's a good cartridge? it works with my TT? or other cartridge on the 100$ price range?

or change my turntable with a Rega RP1?

any advice?

Thank you!!

 

If you can afford it get the RP-1. Plug & play, simple, reliable and great sounding table. I've tried various vintage tables and IMO most are simply not worth the hassle.

 

I would personally get a new cartridge/stylus as long as you've established that your Fisher is functioning without any problems. The 2M red would be a fine choice, or even the Ortofon Omega which is very cheap and tracks very well, although it is 'bright'.

For various reasons, I'm not a big fan of the budget Rega or Project turntables. Instead I would spent that money on a nice condition Dual or spend some more and get a used Linn Axis.

 

btw if the 'stock' cartridge on your TT is an Audio Technica VM8/ATS10/11 (which it was on many from this era) you could fit an ATS12 Shibata to it which is a big step above any sub-$100 cart. You can get it from LPGear, Needle Doctor, etc.

 

I have a Rega RP1 "performance" and I am quite pleased with it.

 

You apparently already have a reasonably good turntable. I'd just put a good cartridge on it. Maybe a Nagaoka MP-110 or one of the Audio Technica cartridges already mentioned.

I have a Rega turntable, so no bias against them on my part.

 

For me, it depends on what you're trying to accomplish -- do you just want to try something different, or are you looking to move up? Here's my approach: if I just want to explore variety or different flavors (unipivot vs. gimbal arm, MC vs MM, etc.) then I don't replace; I add and make a pretty lateral move -- buy something of about the same price/value as what I already have. If you want to make a lateral move, go for the Rega -- a nice basic modern table that will be a different flavor from a nice basic vintage table.

On the other hand, if my goal is to step UP in quality, then I try NOT to make lateral changes or tiny incremental improvements. I wait and save up until I can make a significant bump in price/quality/value. Or I seek out a low-priced giant killer that way outclasses its price range. If you want to progress, then you could either get the Ortofon Red or, better yet, hang onto that cash, bide your time a while and then get a significantly better table w/cart used for not much more than you'd pay for the Rega.

 

Even though I like my RP1 I see an upgrade on the horizon. RP? But to be clear I own a vintage Sanaui TT and its great but the RP1 is in another league.

 

Sure enough -- I just mean, if I could afford a new Rega RP1 now, then I'd probably try to wait a little longer and get a used RP3 instead so as to maximize the jaw-drop factor. That's way more fun and dramatic at the entry level than at the swankier price points.

 

I'm thinking RP6! But know this the RP1 is worth every penny in my opinion!

 

An Ortofon 2M Red or the Nagaoka would be happy on the Fisher tonearm. And in good repair, the Fisher's speed stability will trounce the RP1 Performance. Upgrade the cartridge this time. Set up correctly, and enjoy!

 

Sounds like wishful thinking. Documentation please.

 

This - http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/ortofon-2m-blue.349397/#post-10347586

would be a fine choice, imho

 

The Fisher is a Direct Drive whereas the Rega is a belt drive, and a fairly 'wobbly' one at that.
It has problems running 'on speed' consistently and has some wow/flutter that you will eventually notice when you listen carefully to piano or acoustic guitar notes etc. (try some George Winston or Michael Hedges on the Windham Hill label for example).

A direct drive (or ideally quartz locked direct drive) will offer rock solid speed stability and negligable w/f by comparison, providing the master tape from which the record was cut did not exhibit these problems .

Generally Rega and Project are unwilling to provide detailed technical spec on their products for these fairly obvious reasons: it would not reflect well on them, a direct drive is unarguably superior technically to a belt drive.

One thing that belt drives can provide is a softer, perhaps more 'sweeter' sound (it's actually thinner yet somehow often 'flabbier' to me) and are often 'quieter' in operation. Dual and Linn turntables give a very solid performance for belt drive, much better than Rega or Project IMO, check www.dual-reference.com re: technical spec of Duals.

 

You are joking right. Do you know that this Fisher is direct drive quartz looked TT? How the Regas perform You can info on MillerAudioResearch, it´s not a funny read.

 

Here's a snapshot of a test report at the Miller Audio Research site. It shows total wow and flutter of 0.09%, a result much worse than is published in the specs of the major Japanese direct drive brands from the 1970s. It must be a Rega, right? No...actually, it's a Technics SP 10 MK2.

 

Yes, I believe You have a Rega. My remark was only in the context in believing the Rega actually would perform better then the Fisher.

 

My point is - If you're going to cite Miller Audio Research in defense of the direct drive turntables, Miller might not actually support your case.

 

I neither have a Rega, nor a Fisher. You have made it very obvious that You have a Rega, many times. I really have no case, I was just pointing out that it should be rather obvious that the Fisher shouldn´t be expected to be worse than the RP1, regarding W&F. To really know we must measure side by side, or in some other way that is objective, of course.

 

where is the thread crap smiley when you need it.....


To the OP - you've got a pretty standard table there, not a fantastic table, but not a terrible one either. Perfect entry level table provided it's running good. Pretty much a work horse if it's maintained well. Whether or not the RP-1 is an upgrade I couldn't tell you as I never had one. Should be just fine for casual vinyl enjoyment!

 

Rega does not publish specifications on their speed accuracy. The middle of the Rega line is where I begin being more tolerant of listening to one much. I can hear the pitch wavering on the lower end models. And it's enough to bother me. Especially on guitar, mandolin, banjo, and piano notes.

 

And yet most of the top end TTs are belt drive.

 

There are of course good TTs from all different drive systems.

 

Because belt drive is cheap to make. It does not require application specific IC chips, nor expensive engineering and design and most of them in the RP1 class can be built in a garage with machine shop parts and a cheapie DC off the shelf motor. You or I could make a RP1 equivalent with a machined platter, pulley and a Rega RB tonearm.

 

http://www.vinylengine.com/library/fisher/mt-6330.shtml

Reads good.

Wow and flutter: 0.035% WRMS