Cartridge advice
- Thread starter RJee
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Decibel_116
AK Subscriber
Nice job on the plinth!!! Do you know what the recommended cartridge mass for your arm?
Audioraven
Well-Known Member
Perhaps an Ortofon 2M Black.
RJee
Active Member
Thanks for these tips. Was thinking about the Denon Dl110 or 160 myself as well. I'd like to try mc but has to be high output.
Benz micro is a bit too expensive for me and I can't find any store that sells dynavector in Holland.
What about my Pickering xv15 I currently use on another table? At least temporarily as I intend to keep using my Thorens as well.
With regards to the compliments on the woodwork, most credit goes to my dad. Really nice to do a 'father and son' project!
Brian
An Old Geezer
That is some plinth. Hope you made and kept the templates, etc. The Lenco is a popular table and seems like a lot of guys think about new plinth for them so, do not be surprised if you get some PMs asking if you might make and sell one.
This is how cottage industries start out. With today's automation and tools I can see eventually someone making such a business for the more popular tables. Currently there is at least one guy making repro equipment sleeves.
This is how cottage industries start out. With today's automation and tools I can see eventually someone making such a business for the more popular tables. Currently there is at least one guy making repro equipment sleeves.
Mister Pig
Pigamus Maximus
The Ortofon AS 212 arm is a medium mass arm, adjustable from 12 to 18 grams. So it is going to work with a wide variety of cartridges. And cartridges are going to be distinct in their voicing, so it depends on how you want your music presented. For MM cartridges there ar the usual suspects, the offerings from AT, Grado, Nagaoka, Shure and what not. One good thing about the MM option is that you can buy a good quality used body, and source the appropriate new stylus for it. If you like MM cartridges....
Now if you value the detail and resolution that MC cartridges offer, well it gets a bit more difficult to operate at this price point. There are sellers of the Denon DL 110 such as 2Juki on Ebay that can get you an affordable high output MC. Lot's of fans of that cartridge, its reportedly a champ for the money. If you want to spend a bit more the Dynavector 10X5 is a perennial favorite at its price point. Ortofon makes a couple of high output moving coils that can be had for a reasonable cost in the X series, and William Thakker might be a good source for them.
great looking plinth by the way. I bet the table turns out to be absolutely stunning!!!
Regards
Mister Pig
Now if you value the detail and resolution that MC cartridges offer, well it gets a bit more difficult to operate at this price point. There are sellers of the Denon DL 110 such as 2Juki on Ebay that can get you an affordable high output MC. Lot's of fans of that cartridge, its reportedly a champ for the money. If you want to spend a bit more the Dynavector 10X5 is a perennial favorite at its price point. Ortofon makes a couple of high output moving coils that can be had for a reasonable cost in the X series, and William Thakker might be a good source for them.
great looking plinth by the way. I bet the table turns out to be absolutely stunning!!!
Regards
Mister Pig
RJee
Active Member
Thanks for all the compliments guys! I'll make sure I show my dad those as well. He deserves most of the credit. If you live nearby (Holland, Belgium) I'm sure we can work something out.
As far as cartridges go, I'm leaning towards MCs. What can I expect to be better/different from the dynavector/ortofons compared to the Denon?
As far as cartridges go, I'm leaning towards MCs. What can I expect to be better/different from the dynavector/ortofons compared to the Denon?
Mister Pig
Pigamus Maximus
Thanks for all the compliments guys! I'll make sure I show my dad those as well. He deserves most of the credit. If you live nearby (Holland, Belgium) I'm sure we can work something out.
As far as cartridges go, I'm leaning towards MCs. What can I expect to be better/different from the dynavector/ortofons compared to the Denon?
The Denon is a respectable cartridge, and a nice inexpensive introduction into moving coils.
The Dynavector is going to give you better tonal balance, better resolution of the fine detail in a recording, improved layering of front to back space...along with side to side. Performers will also be heard with a tighter focus.
Now the down side of this is the Dynavector is a more fragile cartridge, you just can't be rough with it. You bounce the stylus across the record in a bit of carelessness and you are going to prang the cantilever. And rebuild costs for a cartridge are going to be at least $150, or possibly $250....so you got to treat it with respect. But in normal use, its fine as can be...its just that lighter and thinner cantilevers and diamond tips respond better to the nuances of a record groove, but don't take abuse well.
The Ortofon is a different sound than either the Dyna or the Denon. It tends to be a bit more cool and even balanced, without some of the sweetness in the mids that the other carts have. It is also darn good at retrieving the finest of detail in a recording, but just presents it in a different manner. Cartridges, when compared to other bits of hi fi gear, have some of the most distinct personality and therefore present music in very different flavors. It depends on what you value in musical presentation, and what your budget is, as far as which cartridge would be in line with your needs.
But it is very hard to go wrong with the Dynavector if your budget will allow for it.
PS It is pretty important to keep your records clean for these cartridges, especially the Dyna and Ortofon. They both have very nice diamonds, and will present music with a low background noise if your vinyl is clean and well cared for. A vacuum based record cleaning machine(even a DIY one) is a worthwhile investment if you are serious about records.
Regards
Mister Pig
