Cartridge thoughts for SME 3 Thorens TD160S

[Vickersman]

Hi, I currently have an A&R P77 cartridge, fitted to an SME IIIs arm on a Thorens TD160S deck, which is in need of replacement. My budget runs to about £200, possibly £250 and I will be using it with a Quad 99/909 amp and PMC LB 1 speakers. My record collection is about 50:50 Rock music and Classical. I have recently been using my Oppo BD105 to play flac files / SACD so have perhaps become used to a leaner sort of sound.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Al ears]

Probably the best you can get is the Nagaoka MP-200 but this is just out of your price bracket.

If you want a lean sound the one of the Ortofon 2M's might do (either blue or bronze).

The Grado Prestige Gold (£219) can also be very good and probably a better match for the SME arm.

Of course if you want to go cheaper, and have a good match for the arm, then the Shure M95xE will make a very good combo.

 

[Vickersman]

I hadn't thought of Grado but having done a bit of searching it does seem, as you say, to be well suited to the arm that I have, so I will give it a try. It certainly helps that it currently appears to be on offer for less than the £219 rrp. Should be a bit left to buy some new vinyl!

 

[Al ears]

Excellent. Do let us know what you think of it.