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Best $300-400ish cartridge for either Pioneer PL-530 and/or Thorens TD145

Ken Boyd said:
On eBay the AT OC9/II with the ML stylus is less than 300.
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Interesting... Thanks, I'll check it out some more!
DCH said:
The TD145 has, I believe, the same stock arm as my TD125 MkII (the TP16). Mine's sporting a Grado Green cartridge ($95) with a 8MZ stylus ($150), which would be within your budget and sounds amazing to me. Although I've heard the 8MZ and Gold styli are the same now, so a full Gold cart ($260) might be a better, simpler solution.

There's talk of Grados having hum issues with Thorens decks, but I don't have that problem. Not saying you would or wouldn't, but just anecdotally I don't.
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Yep, TP 16. I have a Grado Black that sounds ok on it, but interesting on the Grado Gold having the same stylus as the 8MZ, hadn't heard if that before, thanks!
 
redondo2018 said:
Interesting... Thanks, I'll check it out some more!

Yep, TP 16. I have a Grado Black that sounds ok on it, but interesting on the Grado Gold having the same stylus as the 8MZ, hadn't heard if that before, thanks!
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If you've got a Black on it already, just grabbing an 8MZ stylus would be a big upgrade. Basically the same thing I have on my Thorens, and it sounds fab.
 
Incidentally, on my Thorens, I've had the Grado Green, the 8MZ (in the Green cart), and a Denon DL-110. The 8MZ is by far and away my favorite. I have a PL-530 that my dad uses, it had a Shure M91E with a replacement stylus (no idea at this point what the stylus was, probably just the LP Gear generic) and also used a AT95E at one point (broke the clip that holds the Shure in place and had to make do).

Not exactly a who's-who lineup of carts, overall, but man the 8MZ sounds good.
 
redondo2018 said:
Yeah, that one seems to get a lot of love too - $80 cheaper than the 740ML for what seems to be the same performance. One thing that people mention is the added weight of the 740ML because of the aluminum body - seems to add about 1.6g - so I'm guessing one of these doesn't work as well with these arms...
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Some say that the VM540ML is more musical than the VM740ML, who heard both cartridges. Must be the cartridge body material that makes them sound different. They both use the exact same stylus! Strange that the cheap 540 would sound better. I do have a VM540ML and really like the sound! Nicely balanced from bottom end to the top high frequencies, not bright at all. I would say the VM540ML is the "Best Buy" in cartridges. Very wide sound stage, tracks like radar!
 
Tedrick said:
If you have a phono stage that can handle low-output moving coil cartridges, the discounted Audio Technica AT-OC9/ML-II will always get my recommendation at this price point. Tracks like a champ and plays way above it's price point.
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It's certainly tempting - the Pioneer PL-530 runs through an Adcom GFP-555 pre (into a GFA-555) and I also have an SAE TWO pre that I think would both handle it. There is 1 new on that auction site for under $300 now (as Ken pointed out) but of course no returns... but very tempting...
 
Ended up getting an Audio Technica AT-OC9/ML-II and a $20 replacement stylus for the Andante E, thanks for all the advice everyone.
 
Ilikevinyl said:
Some say that the VM540ML is more musical than the VM740ML, who heard both cartridges. Must be the cartridge body material that makes them sound different. They both use the exact same stylus! Strange that the cheap 540 would sound better. I do have a VM540ML and really like the sound! Nicely balanced from bottom end to the top high frequencies, not bright at all. I would say the VM540ML is the "Best Buy" in cartridges. Very wide sound stage, tracks like radar!
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I don't buy those people saying the 540 is "better" than the 740.
 
Chrisxo55441 said:
I second the 301mk2 thats what i have on my PL530 and its awesome. but i have not tried it on my TD160 which has the same arm as the TD145 i believe. i have a ortofon OM30 on that.
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I like the 301 because it is easy on my ears while still having plenty of detail. No harshness found here!
 
A vintage Empire 2000E, I, II, or III, with a Vividline stylus is mighty fine.

And another vote for upgrading your Grado Black with the 8MZ stylus (I hadn't heard that it's now the same as the Gold - did the Gold become the 8MZ or the other way around? The late great Marc Morin always said the 8MZ was the better stylus).

Another great vintage cartridge on a TP16, is an Excel ES70EX4. Which makes me want to hear their current Hana LOMC carts. But these are more than $400.

Other cartridges I've liked on a TP16/TD145:
Benz Micro Wood SL
Benz Micro MC20E2

And another idea: I am just realizing how important a better tonearm is. While I really like the TP16, I just put a Grace G707 I got for a song, on an old beat up Mission 775LC. Holy crap this is a nice arm! I think it's true, a better arm makes a worse cartridge sing, but not necessarily the other way around.

I am now trying to decide if I should swap the Grace or a Rega RB300 on my TD160.
 
Buy a AT120eb and then get an AT150Sa shibata stylus for it. It will have detail up the ....well, you know.

I am currently running AT440MLa bodies with the AT150Sa stylus and could not be happier with the results. I also have the AT150MLX on a couple of tables, but that stylus is now around $600, so its not worth the extra $400 over the shibata.
 
Bkkersey93 said:
Wrong! The metal body is better. Better shielding, and better resonance control.
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No, some say that Have Both cartridges, the 540 is more musical where the 740 body gives it a very little clinical sound. The metal body must give it a hair more brighter sound.
 
Ilikevinyl said:
No, some say that Have Both cartridges, the 540 is more musical where the 740 body gives it a clinical sound. The metal body must give it a hair more brighter sound.
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So IF that's true, then I made the right choice. I like the "clinical" sound. Means you hear everything in the grooves.
 
doctor fuse said:
A vintage Empire 2000E, I, II, or III, with a Vividline stylus is mighty fine.

And another idea: I am just realizing how important a better tonearm is. While I really like the TP16, I just put a Grace G707 I got for a song, on an old beat up Mission 775LC. Holy crap this is a nice arm! I think it's true, a better arm makes a worse cartridge sing, but not necessarily the other way around.

I am now trying to decide if I should swap the Grace or a Rega RB300 on my TD160.
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My SOTA Star Sapphire came with a Grace 707. Apparently it was a pretty decent tonearm in its day. It's been suggested that I move the Grace to my Thorens TD166 MKII, but then I'd have to lay out a ton of cash for a new arm for the SOTA lol.

Has anyone tried the Sound-Smith Othello? I've read good things about this entry level Sound-Smith.
 
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