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Looking for a new cartridge - Help!

tomrich22

tomrich22

Well-Known Member
Ok, So I broke my Denon DL-160 the other day(Don't ask-I am still sick about it) So I put the cartridge that came with my Denon TT back on temporarily until I decide to get another one or something else. Well to my surprise the cheaper "orginal equipment" cart sounded much better and fuller expecially in the midrange area. I had been missing a lot of music for some reason.

Anyway to make a long story short, someone told me that different cartridges sound better with different setups. Well without me buying various different ones, does anyone have any suggestions what cartridge would sound good with my Denon TT, Pioneer SX-980 and Pioneer HMP100's.
 
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Try something MM with 5mV output or more to make things easy for 980. That should be your main goal. I don't know what the mass of your table's arm is like (relatively heavy, I'd guess?). I would want something on the mellow side with HPM 100s, like maybe a Nagaoka MP-110.
 
I bumped the stylus with an album cover and apparentely snapped a wire inside of it as it only plays on the left channel now.
 
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I'm not being a smart ass but how can anyone tell you what a cartridge will sound like with your system unless they have that system. I would say why not try a Nagaoka MP11 most people including myself like it. Or better yet just get a new stylus for that other cartridge.
 
G'day all. My recommendation, a Shure M97xE with a Jico SAS stylus. :music: Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
Something is broken inside the cartridge not the stylus Stanton681 and according to several AKer's and Denon that the stylus cannot be replaced unless you send it somewhere.
 
Stanton681EEES said:
I'm not being a smart ass but how can anyone tell you what a cartridge will sound like with your system unless they have that system. I would say why not try a Nagaoka MP11 most people including myself like it. Or better yet just get a new stylus for that other cartridge.
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I would second the MP11 but they don't make them anymore and you would have to find a used one. I love my MP11 boron but the boron styli are getting impossible to find.

The new version of this would be the Nagaoka MP200. I haven't tried it but would be led to believe that it's a very good cartridge. It is the new version of the MP11 boron which they don't make anymore. It's a little over your price range but think you would be very happy with it.

The Nagaoka's fly under the radar not getting a lot of talk for some reason. I have yet to read about anyone hating one of their cartridges.
 
Sort of same ...

I'd say in lieu of the MP11 or 110, try a Nagaoka JT 555 with carbon cantilever and shibata. Sounds like it would be hot, but I find it very full and engaging. I run mine on an S arm (either the PL120 or QL-Y5F) and feed it into a Pioneer SA-8800 phono section. The combo sounds very good :)

I can definitely state that my Pioneer phono section doesn't like the the low voltage signal. I pulled my DL160 after trying it with the SA-8800 - same basic results as tomrich22. Bear in mind that this phono section has been completely gone through by Fred Longworth and is at spec or better. It's a good phono section for MM cartridges with switch selectable loading and all.

So with somewhat similar bits and forehand knowledge, I recommend the JT 555. If not that, a number of classic Shures sound good. So does an Ortofon OM with with Digitrack 200 stylus (or OM20 stylus) or an OM with a 30 stylus.

My Pioneer does not do much magic with AT cartridges. The HH Scott 375R I had in there before sounded great with the full line of AT's from 95e to 150MLX. That machine had been gone through too. Way better than spec coming off the bench. The Pioneer tested great, but AT's don't do much :( There is definitely a synergy thing here :scratch2:
 
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tomrich22 said:
Something is broken inside the cartridge not the stylus Stanton681 and according to several AKer's and Denon that the stylus cannot be replaced unless you send it somewhere.
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I wasn't talking about the DL160 I was saying get a stylus for the cartridge you said came with the table.
 
I have had the MP-11 on my list for a long time but have not pulled the trigger. I am wondering about the Goldring Elan also. Anyone try one?
 
Shure M97xE, enough said, it is a very good cartridge,very forgiving of tonearm and setup, got mine last week and loving it.
 
BrocLuno said:
A number of the Goldrings appear to be built by Nagaoka?
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My 1042 box says "built by British craftsmen" and my 2200 says "Made in Japan". So if some are by Nagaoka, it is perhaps the 2000 series? I've seen this point discussed, before, but never bothered to check into it. If you're going to outsource, Nagaoka sounds like a good place to go.
 
Trower said:
Steer clear of the Elan, its not a very good tracker and is pretty lackluster.
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Interesting. I had Goldring Elans in both a Stanton STR8-80 and a Linn LP12/Ittok and thought they performed well. In any event, I agree with Zodia on the stock M97xE: great tracking, good sound, and the brush minimizes arm/cartridge resonance issues and is a tremendous help in dealing with warped records.
 
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