Cartridge recs for a budget/vintage table

[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.