What Cartridge(s) Is Everyone Using

[MylesBAstor]

On this particular table , Grado Hum is an Issue .....

As I remember had to do with whether or not the table has shielded motor. That is unless over the years, Grado changed the design.

 

[A.wayne]

Correct Grado's are susceptible to hum from unshielded motors due to their open coil design ........

 

[TBone]

Is it really necessary to spend 5k to get a good cartridge ...? Im still pedaling between a 103R and a Grado gold ..

Matter of perspective.

If I'm arming a $30K turntable to it's full potential, perhaps $5k can be justified. I still consider the turntable & arm the more important sonic components to which any cartridge is slaved. There is the also the issue of proper setup ... which can make of break the justification of even the best carts.

tb1

 

[A.wayne]

I would agree, if one has a 30K table, anyway my question was in absolute terms, regardless of TT, is there a difference with these 5-10K cartridges , is it night and day to lesser budget cartridges in the 1K range, how was the decision made to determine which to choose, it's not like you can a/b them readily, when plunking down 10 K for eg ...

Regards,

 

[TBone]

The A90 is the best bang for the buck bar none while you can still get one.

Well, if you like the sound of the A90 (and not everyone does) then the Cadenza Black may represent the best bang for your buck. Heard one recently on a very expensive turntable, compared to a A90, and the sound was much closer than I imagined.

tb1

 

[A.wayne]

We were discussing cartridges in the 1k range .......!!!

 

[TBone]

probably i have immortalized this cartridge in my brain but my all time fave is the ADC XLM-original version. it had the full, round, buoyant bass of the real thing, wonderful mids with wide open staging and imaging, and a top that made cymbals reminiscent of what i have heard live. it was mounted on a rabco st4 and later a grace 707.

I've always been intrigued by this cartridge. I heard it moons ago, but have no distinct memory. Not long ago, KenJ at the Annext posted some needle drops, one which included an ADC. I was really hoping to get a glimpse of it's sound, but alas ... all I heard was the turntable & arm that it was slaved too.

Perhaps another time ...

tb1

 

[TBone]

I would agree, if one has a 30K table, anyway my question was in absolute terms, regardless of TT, is there a difference with these 5-10K cartridges , is it night and day to lesser budget cartridges in the 1K range, how was the decision made to determine which to choose, it's not like you can a/b them readily, when plunking down 10 K for eg ...

Regards,

Problem here ... I don't know how to judge any cartridge in a vacuum, without arm & turntable, especially in "absolute" terms.

tb1

 

[NorthStar]

Correct,
Grado's are susceptible to hum from unshielded motors due to their open coil design ........

---- You nailed that one.

 

[NorthStar]

We were discussing cartridges in the 1k range .......!!!

-- True, but this thread is still 'bout all type of cartridges, at all prices, that everyone is using. :b

 

[TBone]

We were discussing cartridges in the 1k range .......!!!

Sorry, my bad ...

My favorite $1k or under cartridge ... ? ... within my system ... I'm not even close to certain.

I'd certainly require it to have a LC stylus and boron type cantilever; amongst other issues my arm requires. I've setup a few AT140ml on budget based turntables in the past with generally fine results, but I have no doubt that it's frequency extreme limitations would be exposed within my system. I recently had a Nagoaka MP50s hooked to one of my other 'tables in more of a budget based system, with very nice results. The Ort.Black would certainly be on my short list.

That said, I'm a MC kinda guy ... so the AT33 would probably be the first cartridge I'd investigate for my current system, but obviously it's not the only option ...

tb1

 

[A.wayne]

Problem here ... I don't know how to judge any cartridge in a vacuum, without arm & turntable, especially in "absolute" terms.

tb1

So each cartridge needs a specific arm ...? Table ? you see the issue at hand, cartridges take forever to be optimized , you wont even comment unless we are discussing arm and table, then how do you choose your cartridge, buy and throw away, or become a reviewer and get freebee's ..

Semantics aside how is a Cadenza Black superior to a 103R and how was this determined .... ?

 

[A.wayne]

Sorry, my bad ...

My favorite $1k or under cartridge ... ? ... within my system ... I'm not even close to certain.

I'd certainly require it to have a LC stylus and boron type cantilever; amongst other issues my arm requires. I've setup a few AT140ml on budget based turntables in the past with generally fine results, but I have no doubt that it's frequency extreme limitations would be exposed within my system. I recently had a Nagoaka MP50s hooked to one of my other 'tables in more of a budget based system, with very nice results. The Ort.Black would certainly be on my short list.

That said, I'm a MC kinda guy ... so the AT33 would probably be the first cartridge I'd investigate for my current system, but obviously it's not the only option ...

tb1

OK, thanks for the response .....

 

[MylesBAstor]

Sorry, my bad ...

My favorite $1k or under cartridge ... ? ... within my system ... I'm not even close to certain.

I'd certainly require it to have a LC stylus and boron type cantilever; amongst other issues my arm requires. I've setup a few AT140ml on budget based turntables in the past with generally fine results, but I have no doubt that it's frequency extreme limitations would be exposed within my system. I recently had a Nagoaka MP50s hooked to one of my other 'tables in more of a budget based system, with very nice results. The Ort.Black would certainly be on my short list.

That said, I'm a MC kinda guy ... so the AT33 would probably be the first cartridge I'd investigate for my current system, but obviously it's not the only option ...

tb1

What about the Benz Glider?

 

[NorthStar]

-- I'm curious; all the various cartridges you guys mentioned, are they still available, today?

 

[TBone]

So each cartridge needs a specific arm ...? Table ? you see the issue at hand, cartridges take forever to be optimized , you wont even comment unless we are discussing arm and table, then how do you choose your cartridge, buy and throw away, or become a reviewer and get freebee's ..

Hey, you can judge accordingly, I know I prefer to comment on a cartridge so-called inherited sound based on how it was incorporated within a given turntable & arm ... which it's slaved too.

Have you not heard the exact same cart sound different on separate systems? I certainly have!

Have you not heard a very well respected / very expensive cartridge sound out of sorts compared to it's reputation? I certainly have.

Hell, I've never heard any Denon I liked, they all seem to compress the extreme frequencies to my ears, but then again, most of the turntable and arms I've heard Denons on did the same thing.

I've also heard far too many carts that couldn't be properly judged based a compromised 'table/arm and setup. I'll even go as far as saying that I've witnessed demonstrations in which a very well known hi-end cartridge was "purposely" mounted to a certain table to illustrate it's "inferiority" compared to another (which the store sold in spades).

Semantics aside how is a Cadenza Black superior to a 103R and how was this determined .... ?

Well, I never claimed the Black is superior the the 103r, but I can "assume" that based on what I've heard in the past on different tables. However, for me to fully comprehend the TRUE difference in sound between 'em, I'd need to hear em side by side on the same rig.

tb1

 

[TBone]

What about the Benz Glider?

Sorry ... I figured they cost > than $1K?

I've owned two in the past, and really did like 'em ... but they certainly have a "house sound".

tb1

 

[TBone]

Sorry ... I figured they cost > than $1K?

I've owned two in the past, and really did like 'em ... but they certainly have a "house sound".

tb1

Lame that I quote myself, but ...

I should admit that everything in my system ... has a house sound.

tb1

 

[A.wayne]

Hey, you can judge accordingly, I know I prefer to comment on a cartridge so-called inherited sound based on how it was incorporated within a given turntable & arm ... which it's slaved too.

Have you not heard the exact same cart sound different on separate systems? I certainly have!

Have you not heard a very well respected / very expensive cartridge sound out of sorts compared to it's reputation? I certainly have.

Hell, I've never heard any Denon I liked, they all seem to compress the extreme frequencies to my ears, but then again, most of the turntable and arms I've heard Denons on did the same thing.

I've also heard far too many carts that couldn't be properly judged based a compromised 'table/arm and setup. I'll even go as far as saying that I've witnessed demonstrations in which a very well known hi-end cartridge was "purposely" mounted to a certain table to illustrate it's "inferiority" compared to another (which the store sold in spades).



Well, I never claimed the Black is superior the the 103r, but I can "assume" that based on what I've heard in the past on different tables. However, for me to fully comprehend the TRUE difference in sound between 'em, I'd need to hear em side by side on the same rig.

tb1

I'm in agrerement with you T , just playing devils advocate and hence my question to those spending 5K plus on cartridges, how are they coming to their sonic conclusion's without optimizing each and every setup ...


Regards,

 

[MylesBAstor]

Lame that I quote myself, but ...

I should admit that everything in my system ... has a house sound.

tb1

Yes as does every cartridge To paraphrase HP, "if all these cartridges are supposed to sound like real music, how come they all sound so different?"

Scroll down to end:

http://musicalsurroundings.com/cartr.html

I think MEP had a Glider at one time and can comment more.