Help with choosing a cartidge/stylus for my needledrop setup

[bbr620]

hi all, i'm just starting off, on a low budget, i only have around 100 albums but am trying to get them archived into flac so i can store the vinyl and listen to them from the hard disc to my amp. i currently have for ripping vinyl:


>Technics SL-D202 turntable with stock cartridge/stylus


>Pro-Ject "The Phono Box" Mk.1 phono preamp


>M-Audio Audiophile 2496 Internal PCI soundcard

I've been looking at the Audio Technica range of cartridges/stylus and am needing a recommendation on what to get out of these 3, described below:

also, what does "compliance" mean on the cartidge specs?

Audio Technica AT 95 E: [£30.00]



Stylus Type - Elliptical (0.4x0.7mil)
Frequency Range - 20 - 20.000Hz
Compliance - 15µm/mN
Output Voltage - 3,5mV (1000Hz, 5cm/sec.)
Tracking Force Recommended - 1,5 - 2,5g (15 - 25mN)
Type - MM / Moving Magnet
Fixing - 1/2" (12,7mm) / Half-inch mount
Weight - 5.7g


Audio Technica AT 110 E: [£50.00]



Stylus Type - Elliptical (0.4x0.7mil)
Frequency Range - 20 - 22.000Hz
Compliance - 20µm/mN
Output Voltage - 3,5mV (1000Hz, 5cm/sec.)
Tracking Force Recommended - 1,0 - 2,0g (10 - 20mN)
Type - MM / Moving Magnet
Fixing - 1/2" (12,7mm) / Half-inch mount
Weight - 7.2g


Audio Technica AT 440 MLa: [£140.00]



Stylus Type - Nude square Micro-Linear (0.12mil)
Frequency Range - 20 - 20.000Hz
Compliance - 10µm/mN (100Hz)
Output Voltage - 4,0mV (1000Hz, 5cm/sec.)
Tracking Force Recommended - 1,0 - 1,8g (10 - 18mN)
Type - MM / Moving Magnet
Fixing - 1/2" (12,7mm) / Half-inch mount
Weight - 6.5g

i don't see any point in spending £140 on a cartridge if i need a better pre-amp or sound card, but, can i expect half decent quality from this setup with the AT-95 or am i better upgrading phono preamp/soundcard again first?

i'm not looking for more than 24/96 sampling rate for my archives.

thanks for any info..

[Hanuman]

i don't see any point in spending £140 on a cartridge if i need a better pre-amp or sound card, but, can i expect half decent quality from this setup with the AT-95 or am i better upgrading phono preamp/soundcard again first?

You probably should get better than half-decent quality with the AT-95 (I've never heard the cartridge but it's got a lot of fans). The phono amp would be my first target for upgrading but I would keep the 2496 for a while - it's quite good (although I experienced some pretty fussy drivers on the Power Mac G4 I had mine installed in). The compliance figure is a measure of the tightness of the stylus' suspension (higher number is "floppier") and it is essential to know it if you care about proper cartridge-to-tonearm matching.

(I didn't care about it until only about 4 years ago which means that I spent my formative vinyl educational years of the '70s & '80s completely oblivious to this but I still enjoyed it!)

There's plenty of documentation and opinion about cartridge/tonearm (and cartridge/phono amp) matching on this site. My guess is that the AT-95 and the Technics SL-D202 are both fairly versatile and they'll work together just fine. Having used the Audiophile 2496 myself I can tell you that one issue I had was that, without an analogue input level control, the card could be overloaded by my pre-amplifier output. For this reason cartridge output level could be a factor. The behaviour of various combinations can be predicted based on the specified performance of the components. I know others on the forum have the technical smarts to do this and maybe someone will chime in.

[bbr620]

Hanuman, thanks for the info, i have noticed that the pro-ject output is a couple of dB's quieter than my previous terratec output so hopefully i won't have any input overload issues, i will wait and see if anyone else has a recommendation on cartridges that i should use, thanks again..

[rkay5]

Hi,
I recorded a lot vinyl myself get the best cartridge you can.Lok it the Denon moving coils starting with DL110 Hi output.I use the DL304 great SQ.

[Trackside]

No point putting a fancy cartridge on a TT/arm combo like the SL-D202 - single biggest improvement to the sound would be to replace this altogether. Entry level Rega or Project TT's with included carts will sound a lot better.

[bbr620]

@Trackside, i'm on a limited budget and am upgrading as i go along, i have been looking at other tt's, i got the Technics SL-D202 cheap so it was a good starter unit, what does everyone think about upgrading to the Pro-Ject Genie Mk3? i was looking at Rega planar but i've read a lot of people are having speed issues with them so i'm thinking i'll go for a Pro-Ject

http://www.richersounds.com/product/tur ... -genie-mk3

[Alec124c41]

The Technics should be fine for a start. You can tweak it by stuffing modeling clay inside, to add more damping.

Cheers,
Alec

[Trackside]

If you are just doing it to access your vinyl at a reasonably good fidelity with a view to doing it better later want then just get the AT95. Concider though that ripping 100 LP's is a lot of time and effort so there is a lot to be said for doing it right the first time and one time only as you will save yourself the nagging feeling everytime you listen to a ripped album that it may have sounded better......

[dlaloum]

The AT95e has a good reputation, the AT110e has a better reputation...
The AT440MLa probably would not match your table quite as well as the first two, due to its compliance being somewhat high for the arm.
If you go up the performance/price categories beyond the AT110e, I would look at the Nagaoka MP series which will match your arm/Turntable better.

I used the M-Audio audiophile 2496 for quite a few years and was happy with it. It is not the be all and end all of ADC's but it does a good job - as long as the input is at the right level.

To go up a peformance level over the 2496, you need to up an entire category in ADC's into the $500+ range...

I also suggest following Alec's advice with the modelling clay - there is 3kg of plasticine in my JVC - and it did wonders for it!
If your TT is one of the more basic technics with resonant empty plinths - then this will help! (and costs very little)

Bye for now

David

[bbr620]

thanks for the info guys, looking to fill the technics with clay etc for now as i've had to buy a new laptop this week which has drained my funds considerably (

[bbr620]

does the modelling clay / plasticine eventually harden when inside the base of the turntable or doesn't it matter? i've got playdough here i could use? thanks again guys

[dlaloum]

The type of modelling clay you need to use is also known as "Oil-clay" or non hardening modelling clay. - The oldest brand, and the first (invented in the 1800's) was plasticine.

Kindergarten's and child care centres use it, and it is usually readily available in toy stores.

Playdough is different as it hardens, not the right stuff. Those clays that harden and/or can be fired/baked to make a permanent item are the wrong ones... (eg: fimo)

HTH

David

[Trackside]

The arm looks similar to that on the SL-1200 - if so it will benefit from some damping and some >15mm heatshrink on the armtube will be a worthwhile improvement. Also try applying blutack to bare metal areas under the platter. General TT 'houskeeping' are essential as well - ensure the arm bearings are not sticking or loose and the platter bearing is oiled with a drop or 2 of 3in1.

[bbr620]

tnx for the extra info guys, i was wondering if replacing the arm's wiring would also help? thinking about this, if they would be compatible?

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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Technics-SL-1210-SL-1200-Audio-Phono-Lead-ProteX-Black-Neutrik-Van-Damme-/160721011719?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Turntables&hash=item256bb80407

thanks