Recommend an economy cartridge for me please..

jcaut
jcaut Posts: 1,849
edited May 2012 in 2 Channel Audio
I'm refurbishing an old Pioneer PL-514 turntable and would like a recommendation on a cartridge. I'm sure those looking at this already know, but the 514 is a mid-line, belt drive table, with an S-shaped tonearm and the original Pioneer headshell. I'm thinking of cartridges in the $100 range, plus or minus a little. I'll probably be using this with the phono section of the matching vintage Pioneer SA-6800 integrated that I just recapped, or possibly a Carver C-1.

I'm really not all that into vinyl, but I have a lot from the '80's thats hard to find on CD. I've got a Lab-395 direct drive Radio Shack table with a V-15 RS mounted that I use occasionally, and I thought about just swapping that over to the Pioneer when I get it going, but I'm kind of wanting to try something different.. Maybe like a Grado Green... or the Denon DL110 high output moving coil..

Thanks,
Jason
Post edited by jcaut on
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Comments

  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited May 2012
    I would go with either the Sure M97xe or Denon DL-110. If you can find a used Denon DL-160 that would be even better. I've never tried the Grado Green but I've really liked the Grado cartridges I've heard in the past.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2012
    This is a big step up from the Shure: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009MK3A/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited May 2012
    X2 for the Shure. Get it from amazon for $70.00 shipped.
    http://www.amazon.com/Shure-M97xE-High-Performance-Magnetic-Cartridge/dp/B00006I5SB/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1336678424&sr=1-1
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited May 2012
    Sadly, up until just recently, they were as low as $55.00. Guess they got popular !
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  • vcwatkins
    vcwatkins Posts: 1,993
    edited May 2012
    I like the Shure mentioned above on my PL-516. I didn't want to spend over $100 and this seemed a good match and very good value at $55. If I were to spend more on a cartridge, I'd probably upgrade the turntable to a new entry level Rega.
    Craig
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited May 2012
    You might give the Needle Doctor a call. They were helpful when I picked out a cartridge for some other purpose.
    http://www.needledoctor.com/
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited May 2012
    I'm a big fan of Ortofon (and Needle Doctor). For your budget I would recommend the Ortofon 2M Red Phono Cartridge for $99.

    http://www.needledoctor.com/Ortofon-2M-Red-Phono-Cartridge?sc=2&category=378

    For a little less the Ortofon OM 10 Super Phono Cartridge does a very nice job for $69. I have this one on a vintage Pioneer TT and really like it.

    http://www.needledoctor.com/s.nl/it.A/id.274/.f?sc=2&category=

    Chuck is right...call the folks at Needle Doctor and they will be a great help and guide you in the right direction!
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,151
    edited May 2012
    Dawgfish wrote: »
    I would go with either the Sure M97xe or Denon DL-110. If you can find a used Denon DL-160 that would be even better. I've never tried the Grado Green but I've really liked the Grado cartridges I've heard in the past.

    X2..

    The Denons are even quieter. The Denons cost a little more but are worth every penny.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • jcaut
    jcaut Posts: 1,849
    edited May 2012
    Thanks for all the recommendations. I'll get in touch with Needle Doctor, but I'm leaning towards either the Ortofon 2M Red or the DL-110. I like the Shure, but I've had Shure cartridges on every turntable I've ever had- nothing wrong with them, but I was just wanting to sample something different. I kinda had my mind set on that Denon- I've always read so many favorable comments about them, but I'm not sure that's the best choice for what I'm trying to do here... The AT that Face linked is nice.. just a bit more than I really wanted to spend.

    Thanks for the help!
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