What cartridge?

[plastic penguin]

The Clearaudio is currently fine but sooner or later it'll wear out. Love Clearudio presentation but where would you go without spending silly amounts of money?

Really like Goldring, so a 1042 could be an option, as could Ortofon Bronze, although I've yet to hear the latter.

Any other MM options appreciated.

 

[bigfish786]

You can always upgrade the stylus on that cart from the at95 range. id happily do it for you if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself. Two cuts with a craft knife is all it takes.

 

[plastic penguin]

Thanks for the offer @bigfish786 but next time I wanna try something different. I had the Clearaudio Aurum Classic Wood before, knackered the stylus on the Goldring 2500, but that's too expensive. I've tried Ortofon Red which sounded way below par.

 

[bigfish786]

Nagaoka would be my recommendation in that case. I keep going back to mine from my Clearaudio virtuoso.

 

[plastic penguin]

Nagaoka would be my recommendation in that case. I keep going back to mine from my Clearaudio virtuoso.

Often wondered how the Virtuoso compares, as there's very few owner reviews. What Nag do you have?

 

[Al ears]

The Clearaudio is currently fine but sooner or later it'll wear out. Love Clearudio presentation but where would you go without spending silly amounts of money?

Really like Goldring, so a 1042 could be an option, as could Ortofon Bronze, although I've yet to hear the latter.

Any other MM options appreciated.

Any idea as to top budget?

 

[bigfish786]

I’ve got two. TS12 boron and MP110. Both are very good. I definitely prefer the Nagaoka sound To the others I’ve tried. Goldring, ortofon, a.t. , linn, I’ve done a quick cart change and put the Clearaudio back on, just lacks a bit of sparkle In comparison. And a dip in realism, not much but noticeable to me.

 

[nopiano]

I recall the Goldring 2x00 range was a Nagaoka design, or so I understand - unlike Goldring’s own 10xx series which is used/modified by others, including I believe Linn and AudioNote.

 

[nopiano]

This is a bargain though…

Clearaudio Concept MM V2 Exchange Cartridge

Clearaudio Concept MM V2 Cartridge The Clearaudio V2 moving magnet cartridges are meticulously measured, analysed, and hand-selected into four performance levels. In this way Clearaudio achieves the best stereo channel matching, minimum phase error and distortion, flattest frequency response and...

www.analogueseduction.net

Nothing better for £150 outlay, surely?

 

[plastic penguin]

This is a bargain though…

Clearaudio Concept MM V2 Exchange Cartridge

Clearaudio Concept MM V2 Cartridge The Clearaudio V2 moving magnet cartridges are meticulously measured, analysed, and hand-selected into four performance levels. In this way Clearaudio achieves the best stereo channel matching, minimum phase error and distortion, flattest frequency response and...

www.analogueseduction.net

Nothing better for £150 outlay, surely?

That looks interesting. I'll certainly explore this option.

Thanks.

 

[bigfish786]

This is a bargain though…

Clearaudio Concept MM V2 Exchange Cartridge

Clearaudio Concept MM V2 Cartridge The Clearaudio V2 moving magnet cartridges are meticulously measured, analysed, and hand-selected into four performance levels. In this way Clearaudio achieves the best stereo channel matching, minimum phase error and distortion, flattest frequency response and...

www.analogueseduction.net

Nothing better for £150 outlay, surely?

Honestly, I’d go for the Nagaoka MP110 for that money.

 

[plastic penguin]

Any idea as to top budget?

That's the problem. Not really looked at the budget, but give my current cartridge is £200, I'm reluctant to go much above that

 

[daytona600]

Grado MM huge range to $12,000

Grado Timbre Series, Opus3 - The Absolute Sound

Grado Timbre Series, Opus3 -

www.theabsolutesound.com

 

[plastic penguin]

Grado MM huge range to $12,000

Grado Timbre Series, Opus3 - The Absolute Sound

Grado Timbre Series, Opus3 -

www.theabsolutesound.com

Thanks. I'd forgotten about Grado carts. They seemed to be popular years ago but haven't read any recent owner reviews over the last few years.

What do they sound like? That may seem a silly question, but unlike any other hi-fi component, you can't just just turn up and demo one on the table I have.

 

[Nico69]

Read my views on the RigB AT95 Paratrace cartridge. It's stupendous performance for comparatively little money. (£259). Very detailed and musical stylus.

 

[Al ears]

That's the problem. Not really looked at the budget, but give my current cartridge is £200, I'm reluctant to go much above that

Ok.
So your Goldring and Ortofon are out of the picture.

 

[camcroft]

Ok.
So your Goldring and Ortofon are out of the picture.

And possibly AT. Read the sticker.

 

[nopiano]

And possibly AT. Read the sticker.
View attachment 4697View attachment 4698

Mine didn’t say that. But then I’m not in California!

 

[Al ears]

Mine didn’t say that. But then I’m not in California!

Are they cheaper to buy from California??

 

[plastic penguin]

Ok.
So your Goldring and Ortofon are out of the picture.

No longer have the Goldring. Don't know where the Red is.

 

[camcroft]

Are they cheaper to buy from California??

The health warning is from California State. Hence the ca.gov sticker. The guy who posted the original pictures said that he had bought it from Amazon UK.

 

[Al ears]

No longer have the Goldring. Don't know where the Red is.

I meant pricewise, if you are not intending to spend much more than £200

 

[nopiano]

The health warning is from California State. Hence the ca.gov sticker. The guy who posted the original pictures said that he had bought it from Amazon UK.

Must be a bit of legislative ‘backside covering’ then. When I looked up the list of materials it included just about everything everywhere!

 

[plastic penguin]

I meant pricewise, if you are not intending to spend much more than £200

Certainly no more than £250

*Edit* sorry, I was going by the prices a couple of years ago. I suppose, with a heavy heart, add another £100 on the above price. Anything below £350 is preferable.

 

[bigfish786]

I heard the 2m bronze on a gyro se. Sounded excellent. it Was after hearing this setup that I upgraded my turntable.