What cartridge is on your Technics SL12xx ?

[KenCalgary]

Presently a Dynavector 20XL; have used AT 150MLX.

Lovely cartridge the AT-150 mlx but isn't it too compliant for the arm?

I didn't find the AT150MLX too compliant. I have the KAB arm damper trough so that might affect the results which were excellent. I still have the cartridge and won't let go of it. I changed originally because I wanted to try a low output MC. I like both cartridges.

[KenCalgary]

I have the Ortofon 2M Black on the stock arm with KAB fluid damper, sounds wonderful and I wouldn't change it.

Is it really worth having a cartridge on there that costs as much as the entire Turntable did when they were still making them ?

Yes.

Cheers,
Alec

I second that response. A well set up Technics SL1200 will do justice to high end cartridges: The price you paid for the TT is irrelevant.

[scho2684]

In the past I had a ADC TRXII which sounded great, also to many big surprise the Dynavector 17D2 performed quiet well for many years after the ADC. And the Audio Technica AT-OC9(first release) sounded good. That was all with the stock arm...

[kenvab]

I have a Grado Ref Sonata 1 on 1200 # 1 and a dl 103 on 1200 # 2, Both sound great but different.

[scho2684]

I have the Ortofon 2M Black on the stock arm with KAB fluid damper, sounds wonderful and I wouldn't change it.

Is it really worth having a cartridge on there that costs as much as the entire Turntable did when they were still making them ?

Yes.

Cheers,
Alec

I second that response. A well set up Technics SL1200 will do justice to high end cartridges: The price you paid for the TT is irrelevant.

However, the limit is your weakest component.
A highend cartridge may sound just wonderfull on the Techie, but on a higher spec table that cartridge would perform just better...
Its the art of finding the right balance...
So putting in a $5000 cartridge on a (stock) Techie is just waste of money (IMO), you might find the same performance from a lot less cartridge...

[KenCalgary]

scho2684 said:
"Its the art of finding the right balance...So putting in a $5000 cartridge on a (stock) Techie is just waste of money (IMO), you might find the same performance from a lot less cartridge..."

The problem, as I see it, is determining where the right balance is. I can't afford a $5,000 cartridge so that isn't a problem but (on my modified Techie) would a $1,000 cartridge be better than a $500 one, or a $2,000 one? It's sometimes easy to stop the search early but, for some, stretching the limits is alluring. Though I wish I had more money to test this theory.

[cafe latte]

I was gifted a Decca super gold which is a 1000 dollar cart. It sounds amazing on the Technics and equally so on my Commonealth idler with a 12" jelco arm. It is clearly better than other carts I own the closest being my 881. From my experience the stock Technics will easily carry very good carts as long as the compliance is correct for the arm.
Regards
CL

[Shadowman82]

I think though if you can spend thousands on a cartridge wouldn't it be a good idea to invest in a higher end turntable than the Technics ? I mean I'm not sure exactly how much one has to spend with other well known Turntable brands to get performance better than the Technics .

[cafe latte]

I think though if you can spend thousands on a cartridge wouldn't it be a good idea to invest in a higher end turntable than the Technics ? I mean I'm not sure exactly how much one has to spend with other well known Turntable brands to get performance better than the Technics .

I also have a Commonwealth idler dive which I restored. The last one minus arm and plinth on Ebay sold for 3600 dollars. Mine has a 12 inch Jelco arm and a massive black bean plinth and has been restored to like new. My Decca sound just as good on my Technics as the Commonwealth, both do things differently, but I could not in real terms put one over the other sonically. Dont under estimate the Technics.
Regards
CL

[Shadowman82]

I'm well aware that no other DJ table can match the sound quality of the Technics at least .

[cafe latte]

I'm well aware that no other DJ table can match the sound quality of the Technics at least .

The Technics leaves quite a few non DJ tables in the dust, it certinly outperformed my Project rpm 6.1sb (I had them set up side by side for a while before I sold the Project).
Regards
CL

[Shadowman82]

Makes me glad I have one .

[Shagga]

Hey guys,

I just dusted off my 1200 MKII's and found this site in order to do some self servicing. I'm going to replace the stylus' for the Shure M44-7 Cartridges and after reading through this thread I noticed a lack of mention of shure cartridges?

[Josey Wales]

I use a Shure M91ED with SAS stylus on my 1210-mkII and it sounds great, some say it is too compliant for the stock arm but I disagree.