TT Cartridge help

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by StephenLFC, Dec 8, 2018.

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  1. StephenLFC

    StephenLFC Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    STL
    My setup:
    Pioneer PL 518, factory tone arm etc.
    Adcom amp and tuner
    Vandersteen speakers

    Currently running a Grace FL 9 cart but i think its finally run its course. Thinking about an Ortofon bronze but wanted to see if there were any other recs out there for something in the $300 - $450 price range.

    Thanks for any suggestions!
     
  2. punkmusick

    punkmusick Amateur drummer

    Location:
    Brazil
    Audio Technica VM540ML
     
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  3. StephenLFC

    StephenLFC Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    STL
    I'll look into it, the price sure is appealing!
     
  4. punkmusick

    punkmusick Amateur drummer

    Location:
    Brazil
    For the price it's difficult to beat this cartridge.
     
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  5. MusicNBeer

    MusicNBeer Forum Resident

    Location:
    Florida
    Huge recommendation for this or the VM740ML which I have. The one caveat is it requires a low capacitance setup (TT to phono preamp cable and phono preamp input capacitance ~100pF or lower).
     
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  6. octaneTom

    octaneTom Man of Leisure

    I’m running an AT150SA on my ProJect table - older line of AT cartridges but they are still around and can be had in your budget. Awesome cartridge.

    I see the Nagaoka 200 mentioned a lot at this price point as well, might be worth checking out.

    I’ve read really good things about the Hana cartridges too - the EH should work without a SUT or headamp and is just over your price range, might also be worth considering.
     
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  7. KT88

    KT88 Senior Member

    The AT will have a fairly bright sound in your rig. The Ortofon Bronze is my pick of the two. A Dynavector 10x5 is an even warmer option.
    -Bill
     
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  8. punkmusick

    punkmusick Amateur drummer

    Location:
    Brazil
    Why?
     
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  9. Mike from NYC

    Mike from NYC Senior Member

    Location:
    Surprise, AZ
    Hana EH - 450. Not bright but detailed.
     
  10. StephenLFC

    StephenLFC Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    STL
    Thanks a lot everyone for the responses, got some thinking to do here!
     
  11. KT88

    KT88 Senior Member

    Because I've owned or at least had extensive opportunity to listen to a lot of AT cartridges and Adcom preamps. I owned his preamp briefly, years ago. I have also installed a lot of Ortofon cartridges as well as others. I just installed a 2m Bronze yesterday.
    -Bill
     
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  12. patient_ot

    patient_ot Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    If I had a Grace f9 I'd be looking into this rather than a new cartridge:

    Grace F9 Replacement Stylus | Soundsmith
     
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  13. Zatoichi

    Zatoichi Forum Resident

    Location:
    Wisconsin
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  14. KT88

    KT88 Senior Member

    Or both, as many people don't want to wait without tunes.
    -Bill
     
  15. VinylSoul

    VinylSoul Forum Resident

    Location:
    Lake Erie
    Save the Grace!
     
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  16. punkmusick

    punkmusick Amateur drummer

    Location:
    Brazil
    I think you got me wrong. I'm not asking why you're saying that. I assumed it was due to your experience. I'm asking why it would sound fairly bright. Capacitance perhaps? The new VM series seem to be less bright and less sensitive to capacitance comparing to other AT MMs, at least according to some reviews. What are the reasons why it would sound bright with that system?
     
  17. allied333

    allied333 Audiophile

    Location:
    nowhere
    I second the VM540ML. I think a Dynavector 2x5 may outperform it, but it is $750.
     
  18. StephenLFC

    StephenLFC Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    STL
    Very cool, i'm not much of a technical person so don't trust myself to install it. All four of those listed would fit in my current Grace cart?
     
  19. patient_ot

    patient_ot Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    I would contact Soundsmith to be sure. Changing the stylus should be pretty easy. Or you could send the cart to them and let them do it for you.
     
  20. Tommyboy

    Tommyboy Senior Member

    Location:
    New York
    I had a Grace F9 Ruby Red 6-7 years ago and had Soundsmith retip it. It was worth it. Prior to the Grace, I owned a 2M Bronze. To me, the Grace was better.
     
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  21. KT88

    KT88 Senior Member

    I prefer the 2m Bronze to the Grace F9E myself, but the Grace was very nice. I have used the Grace F9E on both a Grace G-707 arm and a Rega RB250 arm. I just sold a Grace arm a few months ago. It is a bit light for most modern cartridges but I managed to get nice sound from it still from a DV cartridge. The 2m Bronze has better tracking than the OP's cartridge and is a better compliance fit for the OP's tonearm. Overall, it'll deliver lower distortion and wider bandwidth. The Grace had great midrange, but the Ortofon will expand upon that.
    -Bill
     
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