Impulse purchase - now I need guidance

[sjtm]

After spending the last few months putting together a modest but thoroughly enjoyable SACD based system, I gave into an impulse to see whether I would enjoy vinyl as much as these little silver discs. I came upon what I thought was a very good deal on a turntable - a nearly new, pristine Music Hall MMF 9.1. The owner had replaced the stock Goldring Eroica LX cartridge with a Grado Prestige Gold. $800 later and I am just now realizing how little I know. I neglected to ask the seller why he chose this cartridge ( I think you can buy this TT without a cart and then choose your own preference). So a few questions:


I plan to use this with my Marantz PM8005 integrated amp, which has a MM (moving magnet?) phono input. Does this mean I am limited to moving magnet cartridges?


I have read the Grado website, and I cannot tell whether the Prestige Gold is a MM or MC cartridge or if it is possibly some sort of hybrid. Can anyone clarify?

I also understand there are high output and low output cartridges but no idea what I have and how that impacts its use with my amp?

If the Grado was a poor choice, what would be abetter option within my modest budget?

I splurged on some cables for my system ( Acoustic Zen speaker / innerconects / power cords - all used ). However the included RCA connectors for this TT have an integrated ground wire. Are there aftermarket replacement options for these?

Is vinyl better than SACD's?

I do not own a single album. Any suggestions on which should be my first purchase that will convince me of what makes vinyl so great?

Open to any and all advice. I admit I have some reservations as CD's are a lot less work. If this proves to be less than I hoped, you will likely see this go up for sale. But I am a bit intrigued by the "ritual" of listening to records.

[Mr Peabody]

After spending the last few months putting together a modest but thoroughly enjoyable SACD based system, I gave into an impulse to see whether I would enjoy vinyl as much as these little silver discs. I came upon what I thought was a very good deal on a turntable - a nearly new, pristine Music Hall MMF 9.1. The owner had replaced the stock Goldring Eroica LX cartridge with a Grado Prestige Gold. $800 later and I am just now realizing how little I know. I neglected to ask the seller why he chose this cartridge ( I think you can buy this TT without a cart and then choose your own preference). So a few questions:


I plan to use this with my Marantz PM8005 integrated amp, which has a MM (moving magnet?) phono input. Does this mean I am limited to moving magnet cartridges?
* Not really, you can use Moving Magnet or what is called a high output Moving Coil. The High output moving coil has a high enough output signal to work with a moving magnet input.

I have read the Grado website, and I cannot tell whether the Prestige Gold is a MM or MC cartridge or if it is possibly some sort of hybrid. Can anyone clarify?
* I would need to look into this. Grado has it's fans and a good cart but more toward the warm lush side of the sound spectrum.
I also understand there are high output and low output cartridges but no idea what I have and how that impacts its use with my amp?
* see above 1st answer
If the Grado was a poor choice, what would be abetter option within my modest budget?
* cart is like any equipment, it's a matter of choice. So it depends on what type of sound you like. Ortofon has a wide variety of carts and generally a good value and more toward a neutral lively sound.
I splurged on some cables for my system ( Acoustic Zen speaker / innerconects / power cords - all used ). However the included RCA connectors for this TT have an integrated ground wire. Are there aftermarket replacement options for these?
* Ground wire won't make that much difference, don't worry about it.
Is vinyl better than SACD's?
* That's something only you can decide. I personally like both and each have a different presentation. More importantly there are really too many variables to ever answer that question.
I do not own a single album. Any suggestions on which should be my first purchase that will convince me of what makes vinyl so great?
* Buy a title you like and to impress get it on a 180 to 200 gram resent pressing. These aren't cheap, but you asked
Open to any and all advice. I admit I have some reservations as CD's are a lot less work. If this proves to be less than I hoped, you will likely see this go up for sale. But I am a bit intrigued by the "ritual" of listening to records.

* You bought a nice table, I think you should be impressed with the sound. I'd find some one with some set up experience to check the table or do some internet searches and reading on how a table is set up and adjusted. Michael Fremer of Stereophile has a DVD you can buy and many YouTube videos.

[Jack in Wilmington]

My Music Hall dealer sells the MMF 9.1 for $2195 with the Goldring Eroica LX installed or you can get it without a cartridge for $1995. Considering that on Needle Doctor that cartridge sells for $795, that sounds like a good deal. The guy you bought your TT from replaced the Goldring with a $260 Grado which on paper seems like a downgrade to me. That may be reflected in the $800 selling price. What are you musical tastes? This may help us in choosing some nice sounding vinyl for your new table.

[JohnMichael]

Congrats on the table and cartridge at a great price. The Grado, a MM derivative, will work very well with the MM input on your integrated amp. A low output moving coil would not so enjoy the Grado. Being new to vinyl is when accidents happen to stylus and cantilever and the Grado has an easily replaceable stylus assembly. The Grado is reported to track well in the arm on your table and when a Grado is performing well the Grado magic with female voices is incredible.

Enjoy the combination and spend your time selecting and listening to vinyl. I think right now you have a very respectable turntable/cartridge so just enjoy.

[sjtm]

Congrats on the table and cartridge at a great price. The Grado, a MM derivative, will work very well with the MM input on your integrated amp. A low output moving coil would not so enjoy the Grado. Being new to vinyl is when accidents happen to stylus and cantilever and the Grado has an easily replaceable stylus assembly. The Grado is reported to track well in the arm on your table and when a Grado is performing well the Grado magic with female voices is incredible.

Enjoy the combination and spend your time selecting and listening to vinyl. I think right now you have a very respectable turntable/cartridge so just enjoy.

Thanks for the encouragement. At the price I paid, I have no buyer's remorse as I am sure I can recover my costs if this becomes a failed experiment.

I am guessing from your description that the cartridge is compatible with the phono stage on my Marantz amp. I probably will not get to set this up until at least the weekend, so no telling until then what the result will be.

[sjtm]

My Music Hall dealer sells the MMF 9.1 for $2195 with the Goldring Eroica LX installed or you can get it without a cartridge for $1995. Considering that on Needle Doctor that cartridge sells for $795, that sounds like a good deal. The guy you bought your TT from replaced the Goldring with a $260 Grado which on paper seems like a downgrade to me. That may be reflected in the $800 selling price. What are you musical tastes? This may help us in choosing some nice sounding vinyl for your new table.

I purchased a set of speakers from the same person in the past and knew he was a serious audiophile. He had decided to go "all digital" and said he was "too lazy" to fuss with vinyl . He bought the TT in June and keeps all his gear in pristine condition. His current setup is quite impressive and I am sure costs more than many new cars. Based on this I assumed he thought the Grado was a good complement to the TT and was not bought based on cost alone. but his other equipment is totally different than my little amp. In my enthusiasm, I simply neglected to ask him his thought process.

[sjtm]

My music tastes are somewhat varied, but most of my recent purchases are of artists I was not familiar with until I began reading about audiophile equipment last summer. I tried many of the albums that reviewers used as demo discs, such as Ernie Watts, Diana Krall, Gwinneth Herbert, Sara K, Mighty Sam McClain, Kelly Joe Phelps, Michael Hedges as well as better recordings of past favs such as Dylan, Dire Straits, Steely Dan, Randy Newman, Norah Jones, Imogen Heap, Junior Wells, Charlie Musselwhite, Mark Knopfler, Elvis Costello, James Brown, Little Feat, Lucinda Williams. I also purchased several well regarded classical recordings on various labels including Vaughn Williams, Copland, Beethoven, Berwald, Strauss, Messiaen ( the best of these was the Jung Trio performing Dvorak).

I would like my first LP to be one that most regard as having unquestionably the best fidelity, so that I can establish something of a benchmark in the sonic quality potential of my system. I do not mind duplicating something I own in CD. Fitting into one of the above genres would be preferred - I certainly enjoy female vocals, acoustic jazz, 70's rock etc. Any suggestions?

[Jack in Wilmington]

My music tastes are somewhat varied, but most of my recent purchases are of artists I was not familiar with until I began reading about audiophile equipment last summer. I tried many of the albums that reviewers used as demo discs, such as Ernie Watts, Diana Krall, Gwinneth Herbert, Sara K, Mighty Sam McClain, Kelly Joe Phelps, Michael Hedges as well as better recordings of past favs such as Dylan, Dire Straits, Steely Dan, Randy Newman, Norah Jones, Imogen Heap, Junior Wells, Charlie Musselwhite, Mark Knopfler, Elvis Costello, James Brown, Little Feat, Lucinda Williams. I also purchased several well regarded classical recordings on various labels including Vaughn Williams, Copland, Beethoven, Berwald, Strauss, Messiaen ( the best of these was the Jung Trio performing Dvorak).

I would like my first LP to be one that most regard as having unquestionably the best fidelity, so that I can establish something of a benchmark in the sonic quality potential of my system. I do not mind duplicating something I own in CD. Fitting into one of the above genres would be preferred - I certainly enjoy female vocals, acoustic jazz, 70's rock etc. Any suggestions?

I have three Steely Dan albums, "Can't Buy A Thrill", "Aja", and "Gaucho" all are new purchases on 180 gram vinyl and sound great. I have Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony on vinyl but I do enjoy the DVD with Michael Tilson Thomas leading the San Francisco Symphony's rendition better. Recently I've been spinning Jethro Tull's "Thick As A Brick" as I have the 40th Anniversary vinyl box set which includes TAAB 2. If you're a Tull fan, this will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Hope when you dip your toe in the vinyl pool, you like it.

[Mr Peabody]

take a listen to Lyn Stanley | International Recording Artist her recordings are audiophile recordings for audiophiles.

Patricia Barber albums are all stunning. My favorite as a whole is Modern Cool.

The Clearaudio LP of Ozone Percussion Group is outstanding.

Japanese recordings generally are very high quality, they seem to keep recording an art opposed to in the U.S. most is mass market show me the money accept for specialty for audiophile type labels.