Cartridge recommendation for Project Xpression

by **s2k2473** » 09 Feb 2006 05:49

I am looking at upgrading the cartridge on my Project Xpression. Any recommendations for the $100 to $300 range?

by **sreten** » 09 Feb 2006 11:16

MK1 or MKII ? what cartridge is currently fitted ?

/sreten.

by **Audiophilewannabe** » 09 Feb 2006 12:12

Is there that much difference between MK1 or MKII ?
Im sure theres not a difference that would effect which cartridge to use ?

by **sreten** » 09 Feb 2006 12:25

The mk11 has a carbon fibre tone-arm tube, the MK1 a more basic model.

IMO it affects what cartridges are worthwhile being fitted.

/sreten.

by **Audiophilewannabe** » 09 Feb 2006 23:06

They both have a "carbon fibre tone-arm tube" the only difference i can see/find is arm length the MK2 states 8.6 the MK1 states 9.0 but also ive seen MK1 stating 8.6 ? very strange , i cant actauly find Pro-ject or anyone else naming the changes made from one to the other , something you would think they would shout about !!!!
Anyway my MK1 is soon on its way to a new home in the next 24hrs , hardly used it at all , but it just wasnt for me !!!

by **s2k2473** » 10 Feb 2006 16:55

It is a US model - new within the last 2 months. Didn't see anything notating MK I or MK II - I think this may be European models. Currently has Sumiko Blue Oyster cartridge. It does have carbon fibre tone arm - 8.6". I have a Project SE phono pre-amp so can run either MM or MC cartridge.

I have read about a number of the cartridges on this forum and am only getting confused. Would like to know what cartridges are a good fit for the turntable.

by **sreten** » 13 Feb 2006 11:33

Hi,

The Oyster replacement stylus is $25. bonded spherical tip.

So you can obviously do a lot better, though as always the laws of
diminishing returns take hold with a vengeance if you spend too much.

I'd say the arm is compatible with just about anything mid-priced.

Go for a high quality nude tip as a major upgrade over the Oyster.

In the states the Audio Technica's $50 AT120E/T (nude eliptical) and
$85 AT440ML (nude fine line) are outstanding value for the quality of tip.

The Denon DL110 and DL160 also have high quality nude tips.

/sreten.

by **s2k2473** » 13 Feb 2006 16:47

Streten,

Thanks for the help. I was looking at the Audio Technicas and Denons as likely choices, but wasn't sure if going to a more expensive cartridge would yield much improvement.

The manual for my turntable says it is a 1xPression so I think it is a MKI. I looked online at the owner's manual for the MKII and the only difference I could see was that the MKI has fixed cables while the MKII has detachable cables with gold plated output plugs. The price also seems to have increased $50. The rest of the specs looked the same to me. The manual also says the tonearm is a 9" with an 8.6" effective length - this may explain the varying stats.

by **Uncle Ants** » 14 Feb 2006 19:17

The carbon fibre arm on the Xpression is a very good arm and will happily take cartridges more expensive than the deck itself.

Its basically the same as the arm on the Xperience which has been drawing so much interest recently with the X Pack bundle here in the UK - where its packaged with the Ortofon Rondo Red MC.

by **s2k2473** » 16 Feb 2006 04:33

Uncle Ants,

Thanks for the information. I am glad to know that the tone arm is of high enough quality to handle a variety of cartridges. The Ortofon Rondo Red looks like a very good cartridge. I can see where a person can spend a lot of money real fast on turntables and cartridges. I am beginning to think I should have just bought a spare cartridge for my old B&O turntable and not even looked at new turntables. I thouhgt $250 for a replacement cartridge for the the B&O was too much - little did I know.

I ordered a Denon DL160 yesterday. I haven't had a MC cartridge before so I decided to try one. I was considering the DL103, but it is a heavy cartridge, and I wasn't having any luck locating a dealer who carried the heavier counterweight for the xPression.

by **Uncle Ants** » 16 Feb 2006 08:16

s2k2473 wrote:I ordered a Denon DL160 yesterday. I haven't had a MC cartridge before so I decided to try one. I was considering the DL103, but it is a heavy cartridge, and I wasn't having any luck locating a dealer who carried the heavier counterweight for the xPression.

A DL-160? Very nice. One of the most underpriced and under rated carts on the market. I'm running one on a NAS Spacearm/Spacedeck (not a budget combo), where its currently quite happily doing battle against a Rondo Blue ... and not losing ignominiously either.

I know what you mean about wondering what you've walked into

by **Audiophilewannabe** » 16 Feb 2006 10:57

s2k2473 wrote: I wasn't having any luck locating a dealer who carried the heavier counterweight for the xPression.

If you can find out who the main dealer is for Pro-ject in your country , they can supply the extra counterwieght , thats what i did here in the UK , cost was with P&P £12 .

by **Uncle Ants** » 16 Feb 2006 11:04

Uncle Ants wrote:
s2k2473 wrote:I ordered a Denon DL160 yesterday. I haven't had a MC cartridge before so I decided to try one. I was considering the DL103, but it is a heavy cartridge, and I wasn't having any luck locating a dealer who carried the heavier counterweight for the xPression.

I missed the bit about the counterweight. If you want one of those, you can buy one online from a dealer not a million miles fro this keyboard

http://www.needles-and-spins.co.uk/cat_ ... _spare.cfm

Cartridge recommendation for Project Xpression

Cartridge recommendation for Project Xpression

Model # of Xpression

Thanks for the help.