Cartridge for SL-Q2 Technics TT

[Whitneyville]

Excuse the long absence, but I acquired a near-mint Technics SL-Q2 recently, and I'm struggling with cartridge selection. I have champagne tastes on a beer budget, and I'm considering the AT-440MLa (of course), the OM-10, the M-97, and then I'm out of ideas under $200. Ideas? Help? Right now it's wearing an AT-331EP P-4 in an adapter, that I had on hand.

[dlaloum]

Mid mass S-arm - how about the AT95 or AT110?

Also the Nagaoka MP Series - however far up the range the budget allows...

I think the 2M series appear to have more damping than the OM, so they can probably handle the mid mass arm a bit better. OM10 equivalent would be 2M Red, but you might be able to squeeze a 2M Blue into that budget.

Audio Technica also have a new AT120E/II which appears to be a little lower compliance or/and higher damping than the AT120E... I do wonder whether AT are planning on doing an equivalen AT440MLa/II.

And welcome back!

bye for now

David

[Whitneyville]

Thanks David! You understand my confusion. It seems to be a very competent TT, excepting the mid-mass arm (not really a terrible sin).

[Snead]

I like DLs idea of an MP-11. There are used ones floating around for ca. $50.

Since you already have a pmount adapter, how about a pmount version of an old classic? Anything metal bodied would be good. If you're in the mood to 'mad scientist' you could get an AT95 and trim your 331 stylus to fit. Likewise AT 13/14/15 models can be fitted with lesser styli and still sound splendid.

If you're -very- patient, Comet Supply has Denon 110s for about $100, delivered.

Moving up, low mileage SAE 1000s are starting to appear in the $150 range.

[dlaloum]

Although I am a big fan of p-mount I suggest avoiding them for the SL-Q2.

P-mounts are designed to fit in with a low mass (6g to 8g) arm, they therefore have less damping and higher compliance.

Even with the lightest possible headshell (6g) once you add the p-mount adapter (1.5g) the headshell ends up around 7.5g and the arm ends up around 12g to 13g.

Also some p-mount cartridges are a little heavier than their standard mount equivalents as they need to comply with the 6g cartridge mass standard of T4P.
So the OM20 is 5g, but the OMP20 is 6g (and the OM20 can be 2.5g with the optional weight removed).

Best to go with a cartridge designed to work with a mid mass arm in the first place.

[Whitneyville]

The 331 is most definitely a "low rider" at 1.5 grams VTF. I'm still thinking. We can't get the AT-120E/II or AT120Ea as it's called in Japan in the US yet. But I'm considering the AT-120E or possibly the Shure M97E as I can buy either for less than any of the "ideal" cartridges.

[dlaloum]

The AT120 has more damping than the 331 - so it is more suitable for the heavier arm.

The M97xE has the damper brush - so it works very well with a mid mass arm.

[Whitneyville]

We have the AT-100E which is a "VM" line cartridge, and has a better generator than the AT-110 or even the AT-120E and has higher compliance,(above the Shure M-97Xe), and better frequency response and better channel separation (>29dB channel @1KHz). Looks like it might be one of the best choices under $300. .3x.7 mil elliptical on tapered cantilever. New Dual coil design (like the AT-440MLa) with rare-earth magnets. Two digit number on the Japanese website, but they list 5 "VM" cartridges, and Google nor me are that good at Japanese! I looked in the Library and this TT wore a very nice Technics cartridge from the factory, I wish I had. Replacement stylus sells for $119, which is more than any of the cartridges we've talked about.Curiouser and curiouser...

[Alec124c41]

Compliance higher than the M97 is not good for a mid-mass arm. You need lower.
I have heard good things of the LPGear Deft, now joined by a Deft 2.

Cheers,
Alec

[Whitneyville]

Lower was what I meant. When are you going to learn to read what I mean and not what I type? Higher number in centidynes per second, to wit, 8.0 for the AT-110 vs: 6.8 for the M-97xVe. I have to say I'm very pleasantly surprised by my newest toy.
I got a Yamaha optical linear tracker at the Salvation Army store for $5, but it's "brain" was dead and it's special cartridge was gone too. It was the one that looked a bit like a cutter lathe in a drawer.It used an electric eye to read the "start" of the grooves and each track and the end of the grooves, like the Sony and several others did. It made fine trash.