which cartridge do you use for everyday?

bastlnut

hallo,

thought i would ask the obvious question.
i use a Transfiguration Aria.
here a foto:

regards,
bastlnut
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crofk · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:39 pm Post subject:

bastlnut

I've been using an AT150MLX but just recently changed to the Denon DL-160
Guess I just decided it was time for a change, no other reason.

Kim
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"Extinct and lovin' it"

crofk · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:52 pm Post subject:

Might mention that on my other two tables I currently have an AT OC9mc and a Grado Z1+

Kim
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"Extinct and lovin' it"

registeredla · senior member Joined: 28 Mar 2009 Posts: 274 Location: Il

My everyday cartridges of chioce with my tube equipment are my Grado Statement Sonatas.

Cable Monkey · senior member Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 369 Location: UK

Ortofon 2M Black. Very happy with it but having just put together a second deck, I will need a second regular runner. The joys of non removeable head shells!

vincula2008 · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:17 pm Post subject:

Nice thread Cool

!

As I love my records and want to hear what's going on, I haven't ever been very interested in playing with cart which cost is less than two quality records, so my AT 95E remains nicely boxed and I don't miss it at all. Maybe a nice freebie for an starting analog soul in need of a kick-out, plug 'n' play thing.

I've been using an Audio Technica AT 30E cart for a couple of months now as my everyday cart, replacing his forerunner on the TD 320, an AT OC5, which is nicely packed in its box and a wonderful Goldring 900igc, currently on loan Wink

I've got a Benz Micro 20E2H on a Sumiko headshell and I'll soon be getting a Coral 777 on an excellent Nagaoka headshell. This will surely develope quite soon into my everyday cart for some time, as I'm gonna put the SF-Linn Axis/ AT 1005 combo back on the shelves for everyday duty!I love the interchangeable headshell feature...

Regards,

Vincula
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Amor vincit omnia

Terry Robinson

Evening all:

I have used a variety of sound-boxes (pick-up cartridges) over the years, but none have sounded as good as the present one in use here: an Ortofon SPU Classic-E Mk. 2, in the GM-type headshell (pictured left). So this the cartridge we use for our every-day listening here.

The Managering Director of Speakerbits -- the importer of Ortofon pickups here in Australia -- told me this pick-up was a best seller and I can believe him.

Cheers,

Terry.
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fantasia · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:14 am Post subject:

hi guys,

nothing that exotic, currently an Excel es70x4 shibata from the1970s which does get quite a bit from the groves,also an AT311E/12S and my frankenstein GraceF-8L/shureV15-3-HE. these all can extract a lot from the goove. The Resurrected Grace F-8 is well beyond the other two, much more transparent. The excel is slightly behind the AT311E/12S.

I recently had an extended listen to the DEFT-2 which is hyper elliptical tipped
all three were ahead of it which means they are equivalent to something more than $100 how far i don't know, they are all better than a Ortofon VMS20E Mk-2 that i used to own.

It proves one thing go with your ears not price ! they all work very well in my rega rb-300

Fantasia

Dodson · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:49 am Post subject: Everyday Cartridge

I use a Denon 103 R. I used to use a variety of cartridges, primarily an old Ortofon that sounded great. But I wanted to move to moving coil and a step-up transformer. I am pretty happy with it, I have an old Grado tonearm so I cannot switch too easily

felixscerri · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:54 am Post subject:

G'day all, Shure M97xE, of course. Regards, Felix.
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vincula2008 · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:07 am Post subject:

DaveyW · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:00 am Post subject:

I don't really have an "Everyday Cartridge", I have a number of preferred cartridges which tend to be on rotation interspaced with occassional auditions/purchases of alternatives.

A quick comment on price v's performance.
I do tend to agree that in the main you generally get what you pay for when buying new, providing that you have some foresight into general character before purchasing.
But, buying 2nd hand throws up a whole host of random factors.
I have bought the occasional duffer, but in the main I have found the Vinyl fraternity generally honest in what they describe and have picked up some excellent examples at very sensible prices.
In some cases I'd need to pay (from experience of a fairly wide range of carts) 5-10 times more to buy something similar new.
It is absolutely essential though to have a microscope in order to verify the condition of the stylus before subjecting to your precious vinyl.

lynnot · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:52 am Post subject:

Hi,

today it's this one, next week it may be something else ...

Rgds, L.

1200y3 · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:29 pm Post subject: Everyday Cartridge

Shure M92E, and for more diverse sounds I use an N95ED stylus or and N91E (both generics) for more "detailed" or "lifelike" sound.

The M92E has an excellent full-boddied sound with great tracking quality. ($15 stylus!) I do have an M97xE, but it is also for finer listening and doesn't have the "brilliance" of the 91E stylus. The cymbals and strings are burried. The M92E, BTW, was the backup for my V15MR, but I really enjoy it with the huge assortment of used records.

I also modified my V15 V cartridge to accept standard sized Shures, but a good modern OP amp preamp runs the standard Shure quite well.

I don't use a "one for all" stylus, but the 92E and 97xE will handle everyone well, but I can zero in on specific qualities by using different stylus sizes and shapes.

The M92E has been accepted everywhere as a classic, and is often seen on demo models of the SME V. Achieving an MC like sound on a Phantstiehl replacement is simple due to its stylus not being tied back.

jon tiltman · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:45 pm Post subject:

Currently it's a Denon 103R which I'm enjoying more than I expected to. I'm still going to get it a new body soon - anyone have any experience of those alloy bodies available on ebay? They sure look pretty!

JT