Time for a new cart... but what?

[KevAmiga]

Evening all. Am thinking its about time to change my cartridge over. I bought a 2nd hand DL-110 which i believe is now due a change, I use my TT a lot and absolutely dont want to wreck any records with a worn stylus. I believe now this cart is approaching 850hours. So... what to change to? My setup is :

Planar 2
RB250 arm
Yamaha amp
Tannoy 633 speakers, with a REL storm 3 sub.

Need to set a limit at about £110 really...

[dlaloum]

Why not ask Expert Stylus about a retip quote?

Typically their retips provide better than new performance, and may be within your budget...

[KevAmiga]

Good option i guess, I do like the DL 110.

Ill give them a ring and see what they say, I always thought re-tips were for more expensive carts than my Denon.

Kev

[KevAmiga]

I take it you mean these guys :

Expert Stylus & Cartridge Co
Harriotts La, Ashtead KT21 2QB

Anyone used them before? ( i guess so )...

[bauzace50]

HI,
Yes, those are the guys, and they are very good at what they do. Highly recommended (from my own personal experience)!

Regards,
bauzace50

[KevAmiga]

Just got off the phone to a very knowledgeable chap, the cost of the re-tip is more than a new one, however the results sound good.

Will consider it over the next 24 hours, but im guessing that's where its going

[KevAmiga]

Or.... i could purchase an AT 440MLa to swap my denon for.... aargh so many options

How does the 440 stand up to the Denon? I dont think I can wait until september for it to be done

[Hanuman]

Just got off the phone to a very knowledgeable chap, the cost of the re-tip is more than a new one,

The Paratrace? It's way better than what's on the DL-110 now. Expert are pretty confident in the product, believing it to be the best diamond there is. I've had two of my cartridges re-tipped with it and I won't argue with them. If you get the sapphire cantilever done as well (although that'll be double your budget) you'll be in for a shock. I'd wager that what they're asking for just the diamond probably represents excellent value - you end up with an excellent cartridge with a fantastic stylus profile and there's no other way to do that for the outlay, or even 3-or-4-times the outlay.

[KevAmiga]

Indeed, I cant wait that long!

Have bought an AT 440MLa for £100 for now, ill shelve the 110 for a few months and get it re-tipped... i can save up spare cash and get the cantilever done at the same time then.

[MoeandMe]

Any advice anyone???

Im looking to purchase a 78 cartridge and stylus to play 78s on my Thorens 124 w/SME 3009.

Not sure if it matters but I listen to mainly classical and jazz.

Looking for a good mid range set up couple a hundred bucks or less.


Thanks

[raphaelmabo]

Mainly classical and jazz? And you got a Thorens turntable? And 78 records?
Well, as I see it there is only one solution... the Ortofon OM 78 cartridge.
I don't have personal experience with the OM 78 cartridge, but I have experience of other versions in the OM serie and they work very nice with classical and jazz. Ortofon also works very nice with Thorens turntables. (many Thorens were bundled with Ortofons in the past).

[MoeandMe]

thanks for the info raphaelmabo

[KevAmiga]

Well, got the 440mla yesterday, installed it and what a difference.

I guess the DL-110 was worn more than I thought.

This cart is such a good tracker. And surface noise? What surface noise?!

Fantastic for the money, im well pleased.

[dlaloum]

For 78's Shure have a very nice economical 78 cartridge the M78S (an SC35 with a 78 stylus)

However 78 styli are available for a lot of different cartridges - perhaps even the one you have on there now (which you have not mentioned?)

I purchased a 78 stylus for my Shure M70, there are or were styli available for 78 use for almost all the Shures and Stantons, many of the Ortofon's and Empires, and many many more.

bye for now

David