which cartridge do you use for everyday?

blue-starfish · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 2:03 pm Post subject:

Dynavector XX2-L Mk2 on my SME/Basis Vector 4 feeding an ASR Basis Exclusive Phono. Great PRaT with tremendous bass. Deep and taut bass yet fast too.

Backup is an Ortofon 2M Red on a Manticore Mantra/Magician feeding a Gram Amp 2SE. Some artifically bloated mids to make thin recordings sound nice.

lanny · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 3:38 pm Post subject:

My only cartridge is an OC9ML/II. It's taught me the importance of tracking. With the right phono stage, this cartridge does it all. It's also robust, not easily damaged by the occasional clumsy fumble.
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Abandonflip · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 3:40 pm Post subject:

Decca London Gold with a Weinz stylus... until the thing really scares me, then I go back to the faithfull Urushi !!

flavio81 · contributor Joined: 16 Sep 2009 Posts: 517 Location: Lima

Currently the Technics EPC-P202C (1980, mid-range technics MM cart, "all-laminated yoke, samarium-cobalt magnet, boron cantilever"). It sounded really clear with the aftermarket hyperelliptical, currently it's with the cheapest, cheesiest spherical stylus you can get (yuck!), and despite it, it still sounds surprisingly good; the typical sibilance artifacts are sometiems audible, the extra harmonics caused by the spherical tip are audible in some cases too [and IMHO they are the reason some people like the denon 103 so much], but the end result is still very enjoyable. Still, the HE stylus was audibly better.

The original stylus for that cart came mounted on a pure boron cantilever!! Unfortunately getting a NOS styli for those is very hard.

It will stay with the conical until i decide if i'm getting the shibata, the Jico SAS [micro ridge], or if i'm moving to the Audio-technica or Ortofon offerings.

chosenhandle · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 1:16 am Post subject:

Miyabi/mofi C3.5 is currently installed
Mantis ebony/ruby sitting on deck
Transfiguration Temper W recently retired
Wood body Denon 103r on second system
Transfiguration Aria on deck for second system

I admit it....I am addicted to phono cartridges.

ssportclay · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 3:31 am Post subject:

I keep going back to the Audio Technica OC9. I kick the signal up through a pair of CineMag step-up transformers and run it through the moving magnet stage of a Pro-Ject Phono Box SE II. If you ain't tryin, you ain't flyin.

josephazannieri · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 4:08 am Post subject: "everyday" cartridges

Yo cartridge fanciers:

No expensive moving coil carts here!

But 3 carts in current use, and one on the side. For "classical music": Shure V-15 VMR, on one turntable. Nice sweet pretty sound, but generally good detail. Some might say a little rolled off at way top end.

For popular music and rock'n'roll, Shure V-15 IV, in another turntable. Has a little hotter top and bottom end and a less restrained presentation. Have 78 RPM stylus for this one and play 78's with it, and it does great with right EQ.

Also, in another arm on same turntable, Shure M44. Huge output, will track almost any record, no matter how beat up, and bangs like crazy. 78 RPM stylus on this one too. Needs 3 grams to track right.

On the side, on computer turntable, ADC QLM 36. Sounds real good, and doesn't mind massive L75 arm. Not hooked up to main system.

There it is, not a moving coil in the bunch, and all well over 10 years old. Each one satisfactory in its own way, and all in regular use.

Good luck from the old cart switcher,

Joe Z.

bauzace50 · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:17 am Post subject:

Hi,
the one I use the most is the Mantis Wild Olive. Others are used according to mood, down to some ridiculously inexpensive ones (including one M97xE which was repaired by Felixscerri...and MAY be a candidate for a Paratrace stylus by Expert Stylus...depending on extra income source).
Regards,
bauzace50
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jandre · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:55 pm Post subject:

Hi,

I use a Blue Angel Mantis snakewood on my VPI Scoutmaster and a Valve Audio Whisper phono stage - at last I do not feel the urge to upgrade anymore Very Happy

satanfriendly · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:12 pm Post subject:

Blue Note Boboli - I thought I was the only user in the world for a while, but the fan club grows.

AT OC9 - Whatever numbers follows for the latest version. Getting to like it more and more in the 774
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Mitsuman · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:53 pm Post subject:

On my Mitsu deck, a Longhorn modded Grado Prestige Gold and on my Pioneer deck, an AT440MLa.

<flame suit on> Cool

KentT · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject:

My main cartridge is a Stanton 681 EEE-S II Stereohedrom. I also have a 681A broadcast conical stylus for it and a 681 AL for early mono and rougher condition discs when needed. I also own a Denon DL-160 in a headshell and have an Audio-Technica AT 95e in another headshell.

Bigears · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:26 pm Post subject:

I currently run two with two more on the shopping list. I run a Dynavector DV20xl in my Gyro setup and Shure m75ED Type 2 in my Garrard. I'm on the hunt for a V15 Mk3 and on AT-OC9, both of which I have a fondness for.

The Dyna has subtly and detail by the bucket load and packs a decent punch when needed and has a nice flat frequency response. The Shure is surprisingly good and I prefer it over my previous M97xe, it just seems to have a bit more life to it.
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lsquaredb · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:15 am Post subject:

I've been swapping around cartridges and turntables lately. The DL103 / JVC JL-T77 combination had a too overblown bass, so I put the DL103 on the QLY-5F and its great. Then I put a Bluenote Boboli on the JL-T77 and, it works better than it did on the Bellavista. The Boboli/Bellavista combination is very smooth, but a little shy in the bass.

Dadimo · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:47 am Post subject:

Ortofon OM40 gold ( its basically a super OM40 )