I'm looking forward to getting a Technics SL-1300, and I'm curious what your favorite cartridge combos are for this deck.

I have a Grado Prestige Silver on my AR XA, and I'm wanting two things out of my cartridge for the Technics, to give me some contrast between the two decks. First is accurate detail, and second is tracking.

I have some records that have a part of the LP where it seems the needle is jumping to the next groove. Having a second deck with better tracking will help me know if I need to chunk these LPs or just play on this deck.

I assume the best carts will be AT or Ortofon. I have a Shure M55E that is old, but plays fine. I might consider getting a new stylus, for it at some point.

Also, I'm curious what alignment guides have worked well.

I don't know your budget, but the AT440MLa is probably just the ticket. It is a superb tracker and the microline stylus will extract probably more detail than any other cartridge in its class. You'd have to pay a lot more for an Ortofon with a fine line stylus, but if you have the cash, the 2M Bronze or Black are top notch. Unfortunately they don't have the track record (because of so few users) that the AT does, especially with Technics tables,

Hey Howard. Ive been considering the AT440mla, but also the AT150MLX MC Cartridge.. My question is, on my HK430 Twin, it seems id need to run a separate Phono stage in lieu of the HK's built in one. How might the MC Cart perform using the HK430's Phono stage?

Im running a AT 440MLa cart on my SL-1300. The bang for the buck factor is pretty awesome. Its a very detailed sound and the inner groove distortion is pretty much non-existant since it tracks so well. Highly recommended!:music:

For my SL 1301, I have an Ortofon 2M Red. I'm impressed with the sound...I have a HK 3490 driving Polk RTA - 8ts.

On a whim I put together a 'Quest 20'(Ortofon OM cartridge w/Digitrac 200 NE stylus).

The 'Quest 20' can be had for half the price of the Red:yes:. I must be easily impressed:dunno: because I play this cartridge alot with a varity of music. HTH, Preston

Hey Howard. Ive been considering the AT440mla, but also the AT150MLX MC Cartridge.. My question is, on my HK430 Twin, it seems id need to run a separate Phono stage in lieu of the HK's built in one. How might the MC Cart perform using the HK430's Phono stage?
You wouldn't have to worry about it because the AT150MLX is MM. It tracks at 1.25g--the 440 tracking at 1.4g is a slightly better match theoretically, but my guess is it would work fine nonetheless and probably sound fantastic.

Not too long go I called Grado for a recommendation for the SL 1300.

They said the best match to the Technics tonearm would be the Prestige Gold, which I subsequently ordered.

It's been a great cart.
I also use a Pickering XSV3000 also a great cartridge.

Actually, it's hard to differentiate the two. The XSV might have a SLIGHTLY better soundstage maybe because it has better channel separation.
Both have similar sonic characteristics.

Sorry, posted by mistake.

i'm using the Quest 20 on my sl 1400, ortofon ff 15xe on my sl 1700-- i am VERY happy with the quest.

Some superb matches for your SL-1300:

Audio-Technica AT 95E, AT 110 E/T are also very fine. The 440 MLa is even better on tracking (may be too bright for some setups. 100 hours break in helps this)

Denon DL-110 and DL-160 are superb on this arm. Worth considering for Technics owners.

Stanton 681 EEE-S Mk II or III work well here or their Pickering equivalents. The P-Mount version of the 500E is also excellent and cheap.

Ortofon FF 15XE is superb on a Technics arm.

When I had a 1300 I got excellent results with both the AT440 and Denon 110.

Some good ideas, and some I expected. Thanks guys!

Do you guys have a dedicated headshell for each cartridge? I'm just thinking that I'll start off with two cart's . . . so I can see myself having 3 or 4 headshells at some point to rotate carts?

Thoughts on best setup tool for this table? I see that KAB USA has a cheap overhang tool for 1200's. I assume this works, and is needed on the 1300?

I do have a Shure stylus force gauge, but no other tools. And I've downloaded different guides off vinylengine, but don't know which would be best.

I noticed that at the needle doctor, on the ortofon page, they have headshells . . . am I correct in thinking that the tonearm on this table accepts the standard headshells for all these companies that make them?

If I want to buy a couple of headshells, for say around $25 or less, a piece, what are goods ones to look at? Is it going to make any difference with which cartridge I pick?

BTW, the most I can spend on a cartridge is $150. So it looks like most of these will work fine. Thanks!

I have heard so much about the AT 440 and Denon carts, that I'm leaning in that direction. I need to read up on the differences. I play a variety of music, but part of having more than one cart is to get carts that play to the strengths of different types of music/recording.

This will be fun!

I would get yourself at least 2 spare headshells for your turntable. Also, the Technics alignment gauge works well and is no fuss for setup. Cheap too (around $10 for one). Yes, the generic Japanese shell like Stanton and Ortofon and commonly used on most 1970's Japanese turntables works here.

Oh, I plan on going through the entire table to re lube, put new cart wires in. I'm keeping my AR stock and using this one for upgrade fun. But not too much :)

I don't know your budget, but the AT440MLa is probably just the ticket. It is a superb tracker and the microline stylus will extract probably more detail than any other cartridge in its class. You'd have to pay a lot more for an Ortofon with a fine line stylus, but if you have the cash, the 2M Bronze or Black are top notch. Unfortunately they don't have the track record (because of so few users) that the AT does, especially with Technics tables,

I agree!!!

The AT440MLa or also the AT120E/t is a GREAT cart for the Technics Tables of this class. The 1300 is a fine machine!

Joey

Hey Kent, so that tool is all I need? No protractor guides? That would be great. :thmbsp:

This will be a whole new dimension from my AR. Very exciting!

So thoughts on the headshells? Does it really matter which ones? I see KAB has a variety. But I see them all the time on ebay, and other places. Since I'm a visual guy, I would most likely want to find headshells that look good with the cart on the tonearm, so I have different "looks" . . .

You wouldn't have to worry about it because the AT150MLX is MM. It tracks at 1.25g--the 440 tracking at 1.4g is a slightly better match theoretically, but my guess is it would work fine nonetheless and probably sound fantastic.

So I should be looking for a cart that tracks at about 1.4g?

I have a Nagaoka MP110 on my 1300 Mk1. It doesn't hurt my ears at all : - ). Tracking at 1.8gm. It does ride a little tail low however.

kenwood61,

Yes, the Technics alignment tool is all you need for aligning your cartridge. Otherwise, a small screwdriver and tweezers for installation.

I've been swapping an AT15SA with the ATN-15SS stylus and a Grado Gold on my 1300 for over a month now and I'm grinning from ear to ear :D

Overall I prefer the AT15SA. Sound quality is similar, but the AT15sa tracking is significantly better :thmbsp:

Roger

grado Gold and Audio Technica AT440MLa are excellent.

I think I have a spare alignment tool- if I do, I'll send it along.

Ps- also re-enforced the dust cover last night and did some creative work so it looks nice and you won't need to replace it as it should work perfectly.

Wunderbar! Thanks Deli, looking forward to the new tenant :)

I have a Grado Silver on the AR, and don't want the same thing on the Technics. Although, I would be interested in hearing mine on there. As I told, my biggest fear is that I have removed the cartridge enough times in the process of getting it setup that I don't think my AR headshell can take one more removal. I'd probably have to get another headshell, or modify the one on there.

Besides, I'm curious about tracking. Maybe it's just some of my records, but with the Grado, no matter how careful I am, sometimes the stylus seems to track (if I'm using the correct term here) right into the song. I assume it's just how some records are made. But if it's tracking, then I know I want something that will track a little better.

Ultimately, I'm looking at this as the ol . . . if you could only have two turntables with one cart apiece, to enjoy all your music . . . what would it be. So, that's how I want to select the first cartridge for the 1300.

I just found a YouTube review on the AT440Mla, and from some other reading, I would have to say this cartridge is moving quickly to the top of my list.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bqQZhoYC_o&feature=related

I would venture to say that I plan on getting several cartridges along the journey from different makers so I can begin to learn and hear the difference.

The reviewer in the video link (above) mentions the Shure M97xe strength being it's midrange, a little stronger than the AT440 . . . and that kind of information helps me understand a little better how the kind of music you are playing can easily demand a quick cartridge change to get the most out of your music.

I think the AT is a cart that'd fit the bill.

Not knocking the Shure, and the Shure is a great tracker, but the AT is as well.

Two carts in my arsenal? Easily the Grado Gold or Silver, and the AT440MLA.

More of a budget? Third, fourth and so on- Shure MX97e, then a Demon 1xx, then maybe a Sumiko blue point, or something else.


Those seem to all be well love, from reviews and personal experience.

I think the AT440Mla it is . . . I'll start from there. I'd like to try the Denon out as well. But that will come later. Maybe when I'm ready, I'll go over to Barter Town and see about getting some used cartridges . . .

you're tempting me to try out my Grado Silver. I doubt I'd hear any diff between a Gold and the Silver on my system. But I'd be curious to see if it sounds better on the Technics.