Phono cartridge advice

keith allen
keith allen Posts: 734
edited November 2010 in Electronics
Finally bought me a turntable,its a technics sl-q2,everything I read on it said it was a solid table,good bang for the buck.Anywho it needs a cartridge as it has a sure dj cartridge,ideal for...scratching!I have only $40 tied up in the table soI dont want to spend a ton on the cartridge,like to get some recomendations on a good replacement for it,it has a acutex headshell if that means anything.Thanx in advance!
Post edited by keith allen on
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited November 2010
    Is the headshell a "P" mount? Kinda like a plug in type? Or a standard type?
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • AudioGenics
    AudioGenics Posts: 2,567
    edited November 2010
    in the dark ages of my time
    Stanton was the choice among DJ's
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited November 2010
    look at the Ortofon line,,lots of good reviews with your tt and the ortofon line--congrats on your new tt.:smile:
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • keith allen
    keith allen Posts: 734
    edited November 2010
    I found some threads where the Ortofon was also recommened,BTW its a standard mount.I also found a grado that gets high grades on clearence for $60
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited November 2010
    I had the cheap Ortofon and it was lacking bass and very sterile.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,193
    edited November 2010
    The SL-Q2 is a fairly nice semiauto Quartz Locked Direct Drive tt. The heavy S-shaped chrome plated arm is ideal for a lowish-compliance moving coil cartridge, and indeed even as I type this there's one sitting in my living room with a Denon DL-103 LOMC in it. The DL-103 was available for a while just a few months back for $118 - indubitably the best value imaginable in cartridges while that deal lasted. You'll need a high gain preamp or step-up transformer for a LOMC, though.

    Some will realize that I pulled a Marantz/Clearaudio out of service to use this cartridge in the LR... it's really dandy, though; and I think the Clearaudio Satisfy arm just isn't massive enough for the Denon. I do intend to test that empirically, though.

    A HOMC might be a reasonable price/performance choice. DL-110, maybe? The DL-160's out of production; dunno about the DL-110.

    Here's a photo of the SL-Q2 as found at our town dump (with an Acutex).

    SLQ2DDTT.jpg

    Empirically, a Shure M97xe works all right in an arm like this - although the combination is far from optimal.
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited November 2010
    I've got an SL-Q2 as well. Nice table. I also just scored a SL-1700 which uses many of the parts of the well known SL-1200. Came with Shure M97 and two HE perfect stylus's. If you can find an older one they work pretty good on either table.
    SDA-1C (full mods)
    Carver TFM-55
    NAD 1130 Pre-amp
    Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
    The Clamp
    Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
    Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
    Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
    Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
    Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
    ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
    Ben's IC's
    Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
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  • Gulfstrings
    Gulfstrings Posts: 313
    edited November 2010
    I run a 1978 SL-1301 with the Sure M97xE cartidge assembly with tracking set at 1.25 grams. I believe I found that cartridge on sale at Needle Doctor (could have been Amazon) for under $70. So far, no issues and performance meets expectations.

    I do boost the signal with a pre-amp. Not sure if that would make a difference re cartridge performance, though.
    Marantz AV7005
    Marantz MM7055
    Onkyo DX-755 CdP
    Oppo BDP-93
    Technics SL-1301/Shure M97xE
    Polk RTi A7s
    Polk CSi A6
    Polk FXi A6s
    Velodyne VDR10-BV
    Panamax M5100-PM
    Antec VERIS A/V Cooler x 2
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  • keith allen
    keith allen Posts: 734
    edited November 2010
    I really appreciate eveones input,Ive decide on this Grado $60
    http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=GRPRBLK1
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 18,149
    edited November 2010
    Keith,

    I have a couple of cartridge's at home that you can have. not sure on the condition of them as I have never used them. one is a Ortofon can't remember what the other is.

    They were given to me, and I never used them.
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  • keith allen
    keith allen Posts: 734
    edited November 2010
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Keith,

    I have a couple of cartridge's at home that you can have. not sure on the condition of them as I have never used them. one is a Ortofon can't remember what the other is.

    They were given to me, and I never used them.

    Sure,never hurts to have more than one,mine is a standard connection.I'll send ya my info...thanx man!
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  • yeahbuddy
    yeahbuddy Posts: 115
    edited November 2010
    Funny, I just picked up a SL-Q3 digging through my girlfriend's attic and I'm now the proud owner. Looking forward to setting it up and seeing how it works after years in storage, looks like the cartridge is an Empire 1000, here's hoping it's functional!
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited November 2010
    I owned several Technical tables back when and I found that the Shure cartridges did a great job.

    I would give the Shure M97xE a shot.
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  • del44
    del44 Posts: 686
    edited November 2010
    Nice table Keith. I bought one in 1977 when I was stationed in Okinawa. However, my whole system got stolen except for the speakers. But I still have the operating instructions manual. If you need it shoot me a pm. I've been holding on to it for 30+ years. Don't know why.
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