Cartridge conundrum

[admin_exported]

Hi all,

My Sumiko Blue Point gave up the ghost recently so I am looking for a new Cartridge. After alot of research, I can't decide which is the best technology for my price-point (my amp has both MM and low MC capability). Given a budget of £250, should I be looking for the best MM cartridge I can get or is MC better at any price? Also, is there a difference in sound quality between high- and low- output MC's? I like detail, clarity and an involving bass sound.

Help would be appreciated.

 

[gregory]

Hello, i had a blue point many years ago and quite liked it, you could trade it in for a blue point special or a cartridge i really rate is the Denon DL110 or 160, both great cartridges for the money. Generally LOMC's need a bit more gain as the output is quite low, typically 0.3mv's whereas HOMC's have a value of around 1.6mv's which is what the Denon quotes but are actually around 2.2mv's so can be used through an MM stage. You could also look at the Dynavector DV10 X5 but against the Denons the price is not so good in fact many folks rate the Denon over the Dynavector, as for a differnce in sound quality i feel theres not much diffrence between homc's and lomc's maybe a bit smoother with the lomc's but it's not night and day. There is a lot of info over at the vinyl engine and the cartridge database is a good source for matching cartridge and arm type. Hope this helps.

 

[fatboyslimfast]

I love my DL-110 - it's a great cart. I prefer it over the 2M Blue, which was a little forward for my tastes, although still a very good cart.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the feedback.

After a visit to the vinyl engine and other sites it looks like it also pays to have the arm rewired, so I'll do that and probably go for something like the DL-160 which seems to be recommended for the RB250 (and only blows the budget by £50 or so).

 

[Anonymous]

Quba - if you're looking to get Origin live mods done on your RB250, to my surprise the one I found made the most difference was upgrading the counterweight - so you might want to think about that . . . (it made more of an improvement than the rewire to my ears)

Simon

 

[Anonymous]

After much deliberation and listening I have ordered a Sumiko BPS evo 3 and also a replacement counterweight. Now I just need to sit by the front door until the postman arrives.