Post by Owen Y on Jan 9, 2020 12:07:26 GMT 12
OK, a Q from a young family friend, which I thought I'd put out there your collective wisdom....
A new cartridge required, budget 'NZ$500-ish'.
Existing cartridge, a Dynavector 17D3 has a collapsed suspension.
Aside from having the cartridge checked out to confirm the problem and/or sending to Dynavector for a factory rebuild (costly)....
Recommendations please - MC or MM.
The existing system consists of a Linn LP12 with Basik LVX tonearm.
Amp & lspkrs - not sure at the mo'.
Preamp is a Linn Kairn - with MC & MM inputs.
Also on hand is a Dynavector P75 MkII phono stage.
A nice front end (which was inherited IIRC), however new cartridge budget is restricted at the mo'.
My immediate thoughts are:
- ~$500 is not going to buy many MC carts, although there's Ortofon Quintet Red (NZ$499rrp) or Blue at a stretch (NZ$749), or Goldrings?
- The 17D3, being a v high quality cartridge, has a line contact stylus & the elliptical Quintets above (or any low priced MC) will likely disappoint in HF tone & resolution.
- OTOH, you could say that the LVX arm may not have brought out the best in a 17D.
- So, that leaves MMs, of which there are quite a few, even some with 'fine-line' type stylii - eg. Ortofon 2M Bronze (NZ$659), Audio Technica VM series (various models NZ$400-700).
- Grados, Sumikos, Clearaudios, Goldring...?
- Denon 103R MC(import)?
A new cartridge required, budget 'NZ$500-ish'.
Existing cartridge, a Dynavector 17D3 has a collapsed suspension.
Aside from having the cartridge checked out to confirm the problem and/or sending to Dynavector for a factory rebuild (costly)....
Recommendations please - MC or MM.
The existing system consists of a Linn LP12 with Basik LVX tonearm.
Amp & lspkrs - not sure at the mo'.
Preamp is a Linn Kairn - with MC & MM inputs.
Also on hand is a Dynavector P75 MkII phono stage.
A nice front end (which was inherited IIRC), however new cartridge budget is restricted at the mo'.
My immediate thoughts are:
- ~$500 is not going to buy many MC carts, although there's Ortofon Quintet Red (NZ$499rrp) or Blue at a stretch (NZ$749), or Goldrings?
- The 17D3, being a v high quality cartridge, has a line contact stylus & the elliptical Quintets above (or any low priced MC) will likely disappoint in HF tone & resolution.
- OTOH, you could say that the LVX arm may not have brought out the best in a 17D.
- So, that leaves MMs, of which there are quite a few, even some with 'fine-line' type stylii - eg. Ortofon 2M Bronze (NZ$659), Audio Technica VM series (various models NZ$400-700).
- Grados, Sumikos, Clearaudios, Goldring...?
- Denon 103R MC(import)?
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