Cartridge for VPI Scout

[ecosse_011172]

Hi,
My Shelter 501 has seen better days so I'm looking for a replacement for my VPI Scout/JMW9 arm fed into a Whest PS.30R phono stage.
I listen to mostly pop/rock music and was looking at the following:
Dynavector 17D3 Karat
Benz Glider SL

Anyone with any experience of the combinations?
How do they compare sonically as well as their tracking ability and ease of setup?

Should I be looking at anything else?

Thanks

[michaelwnz]

Another Shelter, Koetsu or Sumiko Blackbird ?

I find the DV17 series good but a bit lightweight at the bass end.

I prefer the next models in the DV range; XX-2, TKR but they are a lot more expensive than the DV17.

The Lyra Dorian is another goodie but it's gone up quite a bit in price to over $1000US now.
_________________
cheers,

[lanny]

While you're thinking about it, pop in an OC9, set the VTF to 1.8g, and take the time to adjust the VTA carefully by ear. It's a wonderful match for the Scout, and very easy to install using the VPI alignment tool.

Give it 25-50 hours to settle in, then decide if you still want to spend more money on a cartridge...or put it toward an SDS, where it will make more difference.
_________________
milliHelen: amount of beauty required to launch one ship

[bauzace50]

@ michaelwenz,

I had the 17D2-Mk II, and the 17D3. Both showed somewhat less energy at the low bass range.

Another curiosity was the inordinately high bass resonance above 14 Hz. in my SME 309.

So, I added weight to the headshell, consisting of two weights which were once distributed by Shure in some of their cartridge hardware packets. Each one may have weighed about the same as a 5-US cent coin. Tracking setting was re-adjusted, of course!!!

The two weights got the LF resonance to 10 Hz, and the DV's were now in good bass behavior.

The 17D3 might be especially tricky to handle and set up on a unipivot tonearm, due to its small dimensions around the cantilever. Needs a very keen eye, and specially steady hands.

Regards,
bauzace50
_________________
Benign is what you will be after you be eight.