Cartridge recs for a budget/vintage table

[oldskoolboarder]

1) How would I determine if my tonearm is low mass or not?
2) What steps should I take when installing the cartridge? This is all new to me. Pointers to threads would be awesome.

BTW, any thoughts on this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

[squeegy200]

Something that has yet to be mentioned: What Phono Preamp will you be using? That would determine if you can use a MC or MM Cartridge.

[oldskoolboarder]

Something that has yet to be mentioned: What Phono Preamp will you be using? That would determine if you can use a MC or MM Cartridge.

1) My Pioneer Elite 45TX has a phono input.
2) What difference does it make between MC or MM? I did a quick read of the differences but not sure what impact it has on my choice.

[JoeE SP9]

1) My Pioneer Elite 45TX has a phono input.
2) What difference does it make between MC or MM? I did a quick read of the differences but not sure what impact it has on my choice.

MC cartridges require more gain than MM. This is not a hard and fast rule. There are high output MC cartridges. If your phono input does not specify MC or is not adjustable between MM and MC you probably do not have enough gain for most MC cartridges. High output MC cartridges can be run directly into a MM phono input but they generally do not have as high an output as a MM. You will just have to advance your volume control a little more. My ARC SP9 has a phono input with enough gain for a MM cartridge. I use a Marcof head amp with 20db of gain when using a low output MC cartridge(Ortofon). When using my Shure(MM) the Marcof is not used. I sometimes use a Dynavector(MC) that has high enough output to bypass the Marcof. Incidentally devices such as the Marcof are commonly called head amps. They provide gain with no RIAA equalization. The output from them typically goes directly into the phono input. Some "audiophiles" think MC cartridges sound better. I will say they sound different than MM cartridges. MC's are my personal preferrence. If you are at all like me you will end up with a variety of cartridges MC and MM.

[oldskoolboarder]

Started listening today. My system is pretty revealing, badly recorded CDs sound bad. Same goes for LPs. Good/great recordings are fantastic though. I did have one LP recording of the Whispers that was fantastic.

Unfortunatley, most of the TT's sound seems thin and veiled, if that makes any sense. I'm wondering if a new cart, like an Ortofon OM10 would solve this and open up the sound.

[E-Stat]

I use a Marcof head amp with 20db of gain when using a low output MC cartridge(Ortofon).

Interesting. I find that the gain of my MKIII works fine with a low output Dynavector DV-20XL. Fully driving amps occurs around 2:30 with most records.

rw

[royphil345]

My Shure M97xE does sound a bit rolled-off in the frequency extremes. Though, I wouldn't describe it as harsh sounding at all when everything's adjusted right. To me, it's the most accurate cartridge I've tried so far (I stay in about the $100.00 range). Though, I have not yet tried an Ortofon and probably will someday. I've heard many good things about them.

One thing I can say about the Shure is that a few of my records even used to skip when using other cartridges. Now, I forget which ones they were.

[Woochifer]

1) How would I determine if my tonearm is low mass or not?

I don't have the info in front of me, but there are some general rule of thumb guidelines out there that match the mass of the tonearm with the compliance that you need from the cartridge. In general, low mass tonearms have fallen out of favor in recent years because they don't work well with a lot of moving coil cartridges. If you plan on installing a MM cartridge (which all of the cartridges mentioned on this thread are), the mass of the tonearm is not as much of a concern.

2) What steps should I take when installing the cartridge? This is all new to me. Pointers to threads would be awesome.

If you've never done it before, proceed with caution because there are multiple steps involved. Basically, you need a set of needle-nosed pliers to connect the wires in the back of the cartridge.

After you install the cartridge, then you need to balance the arm (this involves making sure that the arm is balanced at the correct level when the tracking force is set at 0 grams). Once you balance the arm, then you set the tracking force, and antiskating force (if applicable). The tracking force will be recommended by the cartridge manufacturer, and the antiskating will typically be identical to the tracking force.

THEN, at a minimum, you need to make sure that the overhang and azimuth are done right. To do this last step, you should get an overhang protractor. That will allow you to correctly set the overhang and eyeball the correct azimuth angle (incorrect angles will shift the channel balance and increase the wear on the record).
There are general guidelines that match the type of compliance with certain tonearm masses. The tonearm on my turntable is well known for its low mass, so I just figured that I did not want to chance any potential problems with a MC cart.

http://www.lpgear.com/Merchant2/merc...tegory_Code=PE

Unfortunatley, most of the TT's sound seems thin and veiled, if that makes any sense. I'm wondering if a new cart, like an Ortofon OM10 would solve this and open up the sound.

The cartridge is what defines the tonal characteristics of the turntable. It really is a make or break component in a turntable setup. The greatest turntable on the planet cannot overcome deficiencies in the cartridge. Even a low end turntable will benefit from a decent cartridge. One of the earliest upgrades I made when I was in high school was upgrading my parents' cartridge from a Stanton 681EE to the original Ortofon OM10, and the improvement was stunning. The Stanton 600 I believe is a club cartridge, and designed more for minimal damage while backcuing than optimal sound quality.

That cartridge that you linked on Ebay might be okay, but I would be very careful about buying a cartridge at an auction site. Unless you have a high magnifying glass and know what to look for, you have no idea on whether that cart is actually brand new. Plus, I'm not sure if the OMB uses the same cartridge body as the Super OM carts. Ortofon made some updates to the magnet assembly when they introduced the Super OM carts in the late-80s. I believe that they kept the old design for the OM3 and OM5. If you buy an OM10, make sure that it has the Super designation on it.

2) What difference does it make between MC or MM? I did a quick read of the differences but not sure what impact it has on my choice.

Won't have any impact because MCs are generally in the $200 and over range. MCs have a different type of sound, but they're a much bigger hassle because 1) you cannot change the stylus when it wears out, 2) the output might be too low, which would require that you buy an outboard phono preamp, and 3) they're more difficult to match to the tonearm because of their low compliance. If you're a vinyl newbie, forget about MC until you've figured out how serious you are about vinyl.

[oldskoolboarder]

Appreciate the detailed answers. Yeah, I figured that a new cart might help me out. Gonna give the Ortofon a try and see if I can hear the improvement.

Wow, installing can get involved. I've changed the cart back in the day on my parents old TT. But I never even considered all the other adjustments.

Exchange messages w/ the seller on the OMB. Apparently, he gets the OM10's in bulk, which is how (he claims) some TT manufacturers get 'em. So the OMB is the basically the same. I'm game for $30.

[Woochifer]

Exchange messages w/ the seller on the OMB. Apparently, he gets the OM10's in bulk, which is how (he claims) some TT manufacturers get 'em. So the OMB is the basically the same. I'm game for $30.

Not so sure about that, because I believe that the OM3 and OM5 use a slightly different cartridge body from the Super OM10, 20, and 30. A lot of the OEM carts that get installed are the OM3 and OM5. If the OMB is taken from the OEM stock, then it might use that same body design. The stylii are still interchangeable, but the Super OM bodies supposedly incorporate more recent refinements.

J&R is still selling the OM10 Super for $50. You know it's a factory new unit, and it comes with the U.S. warranty. It's an extra $20, but for the extra peace of mind, I would consider that well worth the price. Personally, I would not buy a cartridge on Ebay simply because you have no idea how much mileage the cartridge has already tracked when it arrives.