Question Cartridge update for Technics SL 1500. Microlinear vs eliptical

FBech

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Oct 29, 2024
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Hello, I am getting a cartridge upgrade for Technics SL 1500.

-Ortofon Blue or Ortofon Bronce.

- AT-VM95ML or VM740ML.


I suppose the Bronce and the VM740ML are going to sound better than the Blue and the 95 ML because of Price. Besides that, muy doubts are:

-Are the microlinear going to take better care of vinyl records than the eliptical stylus?

-Are the ATs a good match for the SL 1500? In regards to capacitance, adjustability etc.
 
Hello, I am getting a cartridge upgrade for Technics SL 1500.

-Ortofon Blue or Ortofon Bronce.

- AT-VM95ML or VM740ML.


I suppose the Bronce and the VM740ML are going to sound better than the Blue and the 95 ML because of Price. Besides that, muy doubts are:

-Are the microlinear going to take better care of vinyl records than the eliptical stylus?

-Are the ATs a good match for the SL 1500? In regards to capacitance, adjustability etc.
Don't know about taking better care of vinyl. Both can be damaging in a poorly set-up system.
Microlinear should certainly get more detail out of the grooves.
No reason the ATs should not be compatible with your turntable.
 
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I use an AT -V95ML on my similar SL-1210GR and think it’s a great match. Very good tracking, low groove noise, great clarity. I’ve not compared it to the 2M Bronze directly, but that would have been an alternative, albeit quite a bit costlier.

I hadn’t seen the new Concorde version. @daytona600 is very on the ball with cartridges!
 

good_enough

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-Are the microlinear going to take better care of vinyl records than the eliptical stylus?
In general, all other things being equal, line contact spread the tracking weight over a larger area in the groove rather than everything on a point, so should cause less wear.


The key to your question being at the very bottom of that article:

"
In pure sonic terms on pristine vinyl a top notch elliptical can do as well as all but the very best Line Contact / Shibata styli, but will ultimately be surpassed by the better MicroLine styli.

However in terms of reduced wear on both stylus and records - the entry point is the Line contact / Shibata category.

In terms of playing back worn vinyl line contact stylus types also have an advantage in that they can contact "virgin" unworn vinyl.

"
 
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