Cartridge/stylus recommendations

nooshinjohn
nooshinjohn Posts: 25,418
edited October 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
I am looking for another cartridge for my Yamaha PX-3 turntable. Currently I am using the Yamaha mc705 low output (.3mv) that came with the table when new. I do have a Parasound Z-phono preamp, running into the tape input on my Sunfire Theater Grand V. I love the sound I am getting currently, but would like to get more depth out of my setup. I have been considering a Denon DL-160, or a Sumiko Bluepoint Special mkIII but want to consider better options at or below the $300.00 pricepoint.


Thanks for the help!
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
Post edited by nooshinjohn on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited October 2009
    Audio-technica AT-OC9 MLII AT-OC9MLII phono cartridge Special Sale $339.95 - at lp gear.You could probable find this for a lower price used.
    As well as this one I am considering upgrading to>>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270451469401&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

    The denon is a solid choice too as I have heard only good things about it. I just like audio technica carts myself.
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
    Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
    Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
    Harman Kardon T-55c TT
    DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
    4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
    DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
    Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sTiLlLeArNiNg
    sTiLlLeArNiNg Posts: 805
    edited October 2009
    Dl-160 is a great cart from what i've read/seen also the ortofon 2m series is worth a look, also AT 440mla is a good performer :)

    Don't now if you knew this link but here ya go http://www.needledoctor.com/Online-Store/Phono-Cartridges;jsessionid=0a01054f1f4368c92f82e4a140bb965a977bd6bd162e.e3eTaxiNaN0Te34Pa38Ta38Pch90

    For my Dual with ULM arm i like om10/m97xe, good sound without busting the bank :o
    Media Room 7.1
    Sharp lc37d64u | Sanus vmsab-03 | Sonax ZX8680 | Yamaha htr-6290b | Emotiva xpa1 x 2 & xpa5 | RTiA 9 & 7 | CSiA 6 | FXiA 6 | Sanus NF30B-03 | Velodyne dls-3750r | Dual 505-3 m97xe | Monster avs2000/hts5100

    HTPC
    Intel e5300 | Asus p5q DLX | LG ch08 BD | OCZ 4g reaper2 | WD 1TB | Sapphire 4890 VaporX 1g | Asus Xonar HDAV 1.3 | OCZ modXtreme 700w | Antec Fusion remote MAX

    A fool and his money are easily parted
    I don't drink Koolaid

    Need some cable's? Just ask :)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited October 2009
    I have the 160 and like it but never tried anything else excpt the Shure 97 which the Denon killed but for the price difference it should.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,767
    edited October 2009
    I'll give a 2nd recommendation to the OC9MLII. I used one for quite a while on my VPI and was very pleased. It is a very detailed cartridge with fast dynamics and tight bass. Some call it bright, but I wouldn't characterize it like that. It just needs to be matched to the right system, one that is not to bright to start with. I should have kept mine because the price on them has gone up about $100 since I first bought mine. I only sold it because I was moving to a phono stage that was geared towards high output carts (PassDIY Pearl) and I didn't want to buy a set of transformers for it.

    You might want to consider a better phono stage as well. The z-phono is a decent starter, but there are great gains to be had in that department. There are many nice choices in the used market. The original Monolithic and Phonomena come to mind, but there are many others.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter