MM cartridge for sansui SR-838

[jimboyep]

For those of you Sansui users out there I am looking to pair up a good if not great MM cartridge for my deck... My sansui receiver is the 9090DB which is suited for this type of cartridge. I want to get a cartridge that doesn't surpass my turntable so id like to hear back on some suggestions.

[Alec124c41]

Super receiver you have. I have the 9090.
I think the Denon DL-110 would sound fine. It is a high output moving coil, that works well with a MM phono stage.

Cheers,
Alec

[MrMark]

I have an 838, and it is a wonderful table, arguably better sounding than my TD125 w SME3009.... I think the Arm design on the 838 is actually superior and it is dead quiet. (the 125 is really fussy to get set up correctly). Bottom line, that table is worthy of whatever cartridge you put on it IMO, so long as it's of mid compliance (say ~15E-6 cm/dyne) I would suspect because of its age and design philosophy at the time. I am currently running my M97xE w Jico SAS, and it sounds nice, but I suspect swapping it with the Sumiko Blue Point No. 2 would improve it. The high output MC denons I agree would also sound fine, and those (the DL110) really are a bargain at < $150...

[phonomac]

Hello there,
Another option to consider is the SAE1000 high-output moving coil cartridge, available in "E" for elliptical and "LT" for line contact flavours. Well rated on here and at Audiokarma, Audiocircles.

I have an SAE100LT mounted on a Jelco SA750D (mid- to high-mass arm) and it sounds very good indeed. I took a chance on it when the Denon DL-160 I wanted was discontinued, and have to say I think it is pretty good.

Available for $200 on eBay and a/gon.

regards

Angus

[dlaloum]

Find out what your total capacitance is (onboard phono stage + cables/tonearm) - this along with the arm mass will allow you to zero in on the cartridges that will match best with the setup.

eg: Ortofon MI cartridges - like around 400pf capacitance, Audio Technica MM cartridges like around 150pf, etc...

The arm on the 838 is probably mid-mass - so you would be looking for a mid compliance cartridge (European/america = 15cu @ 10Hz or Japanese =10cu @100Hz)

MC type cartridges are basically insensitive to capacitance ... so you just need to match the arm to the compliance ...

bye for now
David

[jimboyep]

Great feedback... Thanks. This table came to me in pretty bad shape but now it's fully restored and operates flawlessly. It may be better then my SR-929.

[Stefan.H]

I use the 838 with a grace F-9 L, as I now a specially for mid-mass arms constructed vintage cartridge. And I can tell you, it is one of the best combinations I´ve ever heard.
I tried the 838 also with other cartridges in this order:
Sonus gold blue (MM)
Grace F-8C
Grado F1+
Grace F-10 (MC)

[jimboyep]

I had a Grado Gold which I mounted and use it now... I'll look into the Grace F-9... Thanks for the tip!

[BloFish]

I too have the 9090 along with an SR 525 turntable. The cartage is a sure, but sounds really good.

[jimboyep]

The 9090 or 9090DB is a very sweet sounding receiver that really takes the edge off. I bought this receiver in the early 80's from a buddy of mine in college and have kept it up since. It's also the biggest and heaviest receiver I own and quite possibly the best performer. After thoroughly cleaning it I updated the cabinet to a dark cherry finish and it's gorgeous... Don't ever get rid of it or upgrade because there is no upgrade.

[BloFish]

I agree!