Moving Magnet and Moving Iron cartridges

[Rob]

After a very long stint with LOMC cartridges and the unintended consequences that can arise by solving one problem and creating two new ones; I'm taking the plunge on a Grado Ref 2, if only to hear their latest efforts. It goes without saying high output carts like most MM and MI types solve a lot of issues with phono stage gain/compatibility. By extension higher S/N is achievable which potentially means much lower electronic 'hash' and unwanted distortion.

Who still uses a MM or MI regularly and which ones have come close to - or equaled - your favorite MC carts?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Unlike the vast majority of audiophiles I much prefer the sound of MM/MI cartridges and especially every single Grado wood body I've heard. It really irks me at times still, to have discovered that they aren't compatible with my Oracle. I love my TT, but had I known of this incompatibility I likely would not have purchased it. And although the Dynavector DV20x2L is a lovely cartridge and I get a tremendous amount of joy from it, I long for that Grado midrange!

[JCOConnell]

Unlike the vast majority of audiophiles I much prefer the sound of MM/MI cartridges and especially every single Grado wood body I've heard. It really irks me at times still, to have discovered that they aren't compatible with my Oracle. I love my TT, but had I known of this incompatibility I likely would not have purchased it. And although the Dynavector DV20x2L is a lovely cartridge and I get a tremendous amount of joy from it, I long for that Grado midrange!

What makes them incompatible?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Shielding or lack thereof. There is a noticeable hum.

[JCOConnell]

is the design problem with the TT or the cart?

[Johnny Vinyl]

It's a Grado issue as far as I know since other TT's, most notably Rega, suffer through the same issue.

[JCOConnell]

To the original poster, maybe you should investigate extreme high output MC carts? I use a denon mono mc that puts out 3.0 mV and runs in a standard MM phono preamp and it sounds excellent. Maybe they make something similar in stereo?

[Steve Lefkowicz]

Though I haven't tried one in my system, the times I've heard various SoundSmith MI cartridges in ohter systems makes me think I might look at one next time I need a new cartridge.

[timztunz]

I put an Aida on Rega RP6 in a second system in Brasil which produced what I consider to be stunning results.

[david k]

After a very long stint with LOMC cartridges and the unintended consequences that can arise by solving one problem and creating two new ones; I'm taking the plunge on a Grado Ref 2, if only to hear their latest efforts. It goes without saying high output carts like most MM and MI types solve a lot of issues with phono stage gain/compatibility. By extension higher S/N is achievable which potentially means much lower electronic 'hash' and unwanted distortion.

Who still uses a MM or MI regularly and which ones have come close to - or equaled - your favorite MC carts?

I use vintage SHURE V15 type, Technics and AT MMs in my system, the other alternatives are high output MC, MC cartridge with built in transformer or just buy a quality SUT.

david

[Rob]

I love my Shure too, I haven't played it in a while. DK do have any experience with the Nagaoka MP500 moving magnet, the one with the boron cantilever/line contact styli?

[david k]

No Rob, never had a Nagaoka.

david

[Johnny Vinyl]

I use vintage SHURE V15 type, Technics and AT MMs in my system, the other alternatives are high output MC, MC cartridge with built in transformer or just buy a quality SUT.

david

Which MM/MI cartridges IYO offer the best midrange? I had a V15 III decades ago and remember liking it very much, but then I got hooked on the Grado offerings.

[david k]

Which MM/MI cartridges IYO offer the best midrange? I had a V15 III decades ago and remember liking it very much, but then I got hooked on the Grado offerings.

I had Grado & Pickering too but I can't remember much about them, the V15 types I have are also very old but seem to never age! I really can't pick one over the other Johnny, SHURE & Technics ones I have are very old and sound wonderful, my AT's are more recent models but also very good, can't complain about the mids, highs or lows of any of them. I might have a Ortofon mm by now if the old ones weren't so good.
david

[JCOConnell]

The Shure V15Vmr was a very good cart but it was discontinued over 20 yrs ago. I would not recommend looking for one NOS because you never know how the suspension has aged.

[MylesBAstor]

I love my Shure too, I haven't played it in a while. DK do have any experience with the Nagaoka MP500 moving magnet, the one with the boron cantilever/line contact styli?

I know the person now importing Nagaoka into the US and might get one for review.

[Rob]

that relationship didn't last, i thought Pelotone just got Koetsu, seems like its a hot potato.

[MylesBAstor]

Jaime did Koetsu for two years. A lot of these overseas companies think they should be making millions in the US market and don't understand--say in the case of Koetsu that hadn't had a real distributor and any press coverage in years--that it takes time to get market presence and build a dealer network again. There were a lot of things that went on the interim period too that affected the name brand. MOFI is the new US Koetsu distributor and obviously gives Koetsu a much larger market presence as indicated by this map: http://mofidistribution.com/dealers/

[MylesBAstor]

The current crop of Nagaoka cartridges (and accessories including their record inner sleeves) ranging in price from ~$100-700 can be found here: http://www.pelotone.com/phono-cartridges/

[MylesBAstor]

Last MM I owned was a Grace F9E (that was replaced with an AudioQuest 404 medium output MC). Before that a Stanton 681EEE. I might be in the minority but the Shures never cut it for me. Just sounded like a upper octave filter. On the other hand, the cartridge cornered like a Ferrari in one of the Le Man's chicanes.

Had a Grado Statement for review in the '90s and while nice and smooth in the mids, just didn't do the extremes well enough for me. They didn't though, have that illuminated sound of that eras MC cartridges.

I think after that, Grado started to offer the Statement in lower output versions?

I'm with Steve, I'd like to hear the cactus cantilever Hyperion 2 in my system.

[Rob]

As a professional reviewer its incumbent upon you to try a 2016 model MM/MI and report your findings. Grace F9E...wow, how old are you?

[MylesBAstor]

I had a Grace 707 arm and Grace F9E on my LP12. Early '80s? The Grace had crappy bearing and they eventually wore out. No SME for sure.

[jcmusic]

I use a Soundsmith (Sotto Voce) and absolutely love it, I also really loved my Dyna 20x.

[Rust]

Last two cartridges were Grado gold and a Grado mono MI. For the price they are very good performers and there isn't much that competes in the price range. The lower price MCs sound a little shrill to me although the Blackbird works well.

When I get another cartridge, eventually, it will probably be either a Grado or a Soundsmith. The MIs seem to do a good job on the mids. Bass seems more dependant on the phono amp.

[Rob]

To the original poster, maybe you should investigate extreme high output MC carts? I use a denon mono mc that puts out 3.0 mV and runs in a standard MM phono preamp and it sounds excellent. Maybe they make something similar in stereo?

Not looking to replace any of my MC carts, i'm looking at adding a MM/MI as an adjunct to what I already have. A Grado Ref 2 was offered to me and its been a long time since i owned a MM. I has half hoping someone with lots of experience with all types of carts had actually heard one.