What cartridge is on your Technics SL12xx ?

[cafe latte]

Last night I played a few test tracks and did a few swaps. It is easy to understand why the dl160 was so highly regarded as its creamy presentation works sooo well with the Technics, just a pity they are no longer available. The 681 with the Jico stylus is probably more accurate with tighter bass than the dl160, and not as warm. The widest cart is the 881 with the jico, very accurate with clean highs and great bass, this for me is the best cart by far, but I wont be getting rid of the dl160 either as it has a presentation like nothing else that with some records nothing else will do. I dont think there is a one cart fits all solution why I like the interchangable headshell of the technics .
Dont worry too much either about compliance either, it does matter but only up to a point. My experience is very high compliance carts like the 881 are perfectly fine on the Technics provided you remove the stub weight and use light headshells like the stock one. I now remove my lid, initially I thought the boom I was getting was compliance related, but since trying different carts to a more or lesser degree the lid causes boom with all my carts regardless of compliance. If you are worred about compliance you could always add a damper to the arm which will widen the arms compliance some what, but not sure it is needed.
Regards
CL
Edit.. If you are coming up the range one day let me know and bring some records and listen to some carts for yourself

[Hermionediamond]

The 2M Bronze is awesome. Much more detail than the red. Lovely warm sound, tight bass and easy on the ear high end. I've been spinning my much loved Zep collection and I'm hearing things I've never noticed before - and believe me I know these albums inside out and back to front - or so I thought.

I just can't get enough of revisiting the classics through the 2M Bronze. Tomorrow is prog day. Think I'll start with Rush's Hemispheres or Farewell to Kings and move onto some Yes or Caravan. The wife won't be happy!

[chris@panteg]

Audio Technica AT33EV MC and 'Precept' 550ML MM

[tcw]

AT11E with Pfanstiehl .2 * .7 12xe replacement needle. Essentially a at13ea.

[D.]

AT 440MLa on Technics Headshell

[cyp21]

I have a Grado Gold which needs a new stylus so will be using a Audio Technica AT110E until then.

[analogaudio]

AT440MLa

[Trackside]

DL-103 via a Sumiko headshell + 4 g spacer + 2.2g of heatshrink on the armtube and stainless steel nut on the auxiliary CW to balance it (8g + of mass)all out.

[jbodango]

Working with a stock 12105G - switch between

Denon DL-110
Ortofon 2M Blue
Nagaoka MP-200
Denon DL-160

Would love to hear the Ortofon 2M Bronze soon.

[Mark E Smith's Dentist]

van den Hul Frog. On the end of an SME 345 arm.


JT

[dogpile]

Was previously using a DV 20XL which was nice
Now using a ZYX R100 which is nicer

[Analogologist]

My SL1200MK II carries a Shure V15 IV. Freq response matches My Soundcraftsman Amp & Jbl L100's pretty well. I could spend more money, but why if you are happy?

[Fatmangolf]

Musicmaker III and I took the stock transformer out into a box to ensure no hum.

[dogpile]

I took the stock transformer out into a box to ensure no hum.

Very interesting. Was this an easy task and was there a noticeable improvement in sound quality?