Cartridge for Technics SA-1200 GR2

[Anthony8181]

Hello -

Hoping to get some help. I have a Technics SA-1200 GR2 turntable. And, I have a Pioneer SA-9100 amp. I was thinking about getting a Hana EL to put on the turntable. Am I OK to buy this type of low output cartridge with my amp/tt setup? Hoping someone can help me here before I click purchase. Or, if anyone has a better cartridge recommendation, that would also be appreciated.

Thank you -
Anthony

 

[Old Guy8]

Hello Anthony.
Welcome to AK. How much experience do you have with stereo systems? You aren't posting much information to give a recommendation by.

There's a lot of factors to consider. First. Does your Amp have phono preamp adjustability? I'm not familiar with it.

And many cartridges to choose from.

 

[xrayspex77]

The Hana EL is a Low Output MC, you'd need a separate phono preamp with MC to use with the SA-9100
The Hana EH is a High Output MC and should work with your the SA-9100 but you will have to turn it up a little more than with a MM Cartridge.

 

[SONDEKNZ]

@Anthony8181

Just be aware that you really don't need to spend so much, to get fantastic sound from your TECHNICS' medium weight tonearm.

If I were in your shoes, I would spend less on a HIGH-OUTPUT MOVING COIL cartridge, which will NOT require an additional MC Step-up purchase.

I highly recommend this journey below...



Purchase a brand-new genuine DENON DL-110 - at low cost, compared to any of the HANA cartridges.

The DENON DL-110 is a proven top performer on your TECHNICS tonearm and sports one of the best styli in the business.

Setup the DL-110, according to the manufacturer's specifications, as follows:
47K Impedance Load (50K on your 9100)
2.0g VTF
Tonearm parallel to record surface

It will sound totally shite fresh out of the box.

Once you have about 4-hours play-time on your (test) hack pressings - and the DENON starts to sound quite decent - make the following changes:
Set the Impedance Loading to 100R (SHOCK!) - your PIONEER 9100 supports that option.
(Carefully) Remove the stylus guard

Give it a listen and appreciate the flawless tracking and the utterly quiet presentation and then become unhappy with the slightly too polite presentation...

And then:
Reduce the VTF to 1.6g!

You will now have a cartridge that takes wing and sings like a bird - and is as quiet in the grooves as our beloved (and costly) SHELTER 501/2!

The DENON DL-110 will sound fantastic, but won't fully come on-song until around 20-hours of play-time.

[I keep a tally mark in a small notebook, for each side. 3-sides represented by three tally marks = 1-hour of stylus life. Works for me...]

We are running this same cartridge at the moment on our high-spec hot-rodded LP12 rig - and are totally blown-away with the stunning sound quality!

The DENON DL-110 sound is smooth, but punchy and extended - without being a forensic detail machine. Tops are crystal clear - even with our all-tube rig - but are completely without fatigue. Bass and mids are the highlight here and the ever-so-slight warmth gives a sense of weight and fullness that we really enjoy. Drums sound like wood on skin and guitars have bodies. Female vocals have chest and brass sections sound metallic and blatty.

Best of all, your precious vinyl will thank you for the reduced VTF, the superb tracking and complete absence of groove-wall collisions - even on the inner tracks.

Then go and spend the balance of your cartridge budget on NEAR MINT original pressings!

IMPORTANT: To really hear the truth of your cartridge performance at each stage, perform critical listening with headphones. Even budget headphones have way less distortion than the most exotic of loudspeakers - so you will hear the whole truth and nothing but the truth. A cartridge that sounds stunning on headphones, will sound sensational on loudspeakers.

 

[Anthony8181]

Excellent, thank you all very much for the feedback. Very clear.

My GR2 Turntable is currently being shipped, and set to arrive within the next week. I'll post regarding how it sounds and goes.

Thanks all.

 

[Old Guy8]

Another couple cart that have a following on AK. Both are high output. And on the laid-back side of presentations. You could investigate opinions on these.

Nagaoka MP200, elliptical, boron cantilever. Mine is on a Linn Basik Lvx arm. Better deals can be found on Ebay from Japanese sellers around $350. Replacement stylii only around $150.

Grado Opus3. High or low output Moving Iron elliptical versions. Must be re tipped. $300. Grado has a trade in program. I think for $200 they send a replacement. Mine is on a SL1200 MK2. Grado carts can hum to some extent on certain turntables. There are online charts with TT hum experiences.

 

[krautmaster]

I'm using an Audio Technica VM740ML (excellent micro line stylus) on my new GR2, it balances and tracks very well and sounds great. Beware that you need very low capacitance cables to keep this cartridge from sounding bright, I'm using a pair of BlueJeans LC-1 cables with it.

Stereo Cables at Blue Jeans Cable

 

[AudioRelic70]

I'm using an Audio Technica VM740ML (excellent micro line stylus) on my new GR2, it balances and tracks very well and sounds great. Beware that you need very low capacitance cables to keep this cartridge from sounding bright, I'm using a pair of BlueJeans LC-1 cables with it.

Stereo Cables at Blue Jeans Cable

kr

I'm using an Audio Technica VM740ML (excellent micro line stylus) on my new GR2, it balances and tracks very well and sounds great. Beware that you need very low capacitance cables to keep this cartridge from sounding bright, I'm using a pair of BlueJeans LC-1 cables with it.

Stereo Cables at Blue Jeans Cable

I'm using an Audio Technica VM740ML (excellent micro line stylus) on my new GR2, it balances and tracks very well and sounds great. Beware that you need very low capacitance cables to keep this cartridge from sounding bright, I'm using a pair of BlueJeans LC-1 cables with it.

Stereo Cables at Blue Jeans Cable

Thanks for the tip/info on the audio cables! I ordered the almost exact set up two weeks ago from a distributor, but the TT (Technics SL-1210GR2) is on back order But the AT VM740ML cartridge arrived! Are you using a TT preamplifier with this set up? My vintage recapped receiver (Pioneer SX-636) has its own phono stage, so I know I don’t need one, but should I use one? If so, I was looking at the Schiit Skoll, but thought I’d ask if anyone thinks it’s necessary. Thanks for the input!

 

[krautmaster]

kr


Thanks for the tip/info on the audio cables! I ordered the almost exact set up two weeks ago from a distributor, but the TT (Technics SL-1210GR2) is on back order But the AT VM740ML cartridge arrived! Are you using a TT preamplifier with this set up? My vintage recapped receiver (Pioneer SX-636) has its own phono stage, so I know I don’t need one, but should I use one? If so, I was looking at the Schiit Skoll, but thought I’d ask if anyone thinks it’s necessary. Thanks for the input!

I use a Schiit Skoll and have it set at 47Kohms and 50pF capacitance--sounds beautiful.... and you can monkey around with its settings via remote from your comfy chair, no stupid little DIP switches on the bottom to fool with. Plus you can upgrade your cartridge to a moving coil later on and the Skoll works with those too. I'm going to get another Skoll when they are available in silver (a couple of months from now they say). If you buy a Skoll, hook it up to your receivers AUX input, not the phono input... bad things happen if you do that...

 

[AudioRelic70]

I use a Schiit Skoll and have it set at 47Kohms and 50pF capacitance--sounds beautiful.... and you can monkey around with its settings via remote from your comfy chair, no stupid little DIP switches on the bottom to fool with. Plus you can upgrade your cartridge to a moving coil later on and the Skoll works with those too. I'm going to get another Skoll when they are available in silver (a couple of months from now they say). If you buy a Skoll, hook it up to your receivers AUX input, not the phono input... bad things happen if you do that...

View attachment 3208357

That sounds great! I am definitely looking for pros and cons, as well as different choices (under $500). That’s one vote Schiit Skoll!

 

[krautmaster]

That sounds great! I am definitely looking for pros and cons, as well as different choices (under $500). That’s one vote Schiit Skoll!

There are quite a few very good phono preamps for less than $500 (probably 10 to 15), but none of them have a remote like the Skoll... most have the fiddly little dip switches.

 

[AudioRelic70]

Also, this may be an option..

Pro-Ject Phono Box S3 B​

It has a different range of loading Ohms, pF capacitance, and db. But it’s also $100 more than the Skoll..

 

[AudioRelic70]

Also, this may be an option..

Pro-Ject Phono Box S3 B​

It has a different range of loading Ohms, pF capacitance, and db. But it’s also $100 more than the Skoll..

A remote isn’t important to me, but I wouldn’t mind it..the Pro-Ject doesn’t have the dippy switches, so possibly a viable option..thoughts??

 

[krautmaster]

A remote isn’t important to me, but I wouldn’t mind it..the Pro-Ject doesn’t have the dippy switches, so possibly a viable option..thoughts??

Probably just fine, but I have a bad taste left in my mouth from a very crappy overpriced POS of a turntable from Project (Debut Pro) that keeps me from purchasing anything else from them..., but that's just me and my grumpy old man schtick !

 

[AudioRelic70]

Haha I get that way sometimes..excuse me for a few minutes while I yell at a few kids who are playing ball on my lawn…haha
Thanks for the advice! If anyone else wants to chime in on the Schiit vs. the Pro-Ject, feel free, and thanks everyone

 

[Mr Boochie]

Probably just fine, but I have a bad taste left in my mouth from a very crappy overpriced POS of a turntable from Project (Debut Pro) that keeps me from purchasing anything else from them..., but that's just me and my grumpy old man schtick !

I've only owned one Pro-ject turntable, which I sold less than a year later. I could never get the thing to be quiet --- it always had this background rumble.

However, their phono pre-amps are good. I've used the Tube Box DS2 for almost five years now. Raytheon 5751 tubes brought it to life. I am not looking for any replacement. I want to find or build a classic Audio Note phono pre-amp one day. One day.

 

[AudioRelic70]

Thanks for the reply. Beautiful looking preamp. Probably going to pull the trigger on either the Schiit Skoll, or the Pro-Ject. My main concern is the AT VM740ML cart sounding too bright on the 1200gr2.
Hopefully one of those will help (should I need it)!

 

[Mr Boochie]

Thanks for the reply. Beautiful looking preamp. Probably going to pull the trigger on either the Schiit Skoll, or the Pro-Ject. My main concern is the AT VM740ML cart sounding too bright on the 1200gr2.
Hopefully one of those will help (should I need it)!

What cables are you using between the turntable and the pre-amp or receiver?

 

[AudioRelic70]

What cables are you using between the turntable and the pre-amp or receiver?

I ordered the LC-1 cables from Blue Jeans Cable (thanks krautmaster!). The total run of cable should be about 79 pF according to their data. Not sure how to calculate the rest of the system capacitance, but it’s a start.

 

[Mr Boochie]

I ordered the LC-1 cables from Blue Jeans Cable (thanks krautmaster!). The total run of cable should be about 79 pF according to their data. Not sure how to calculate the rest of the system capacitance, but it’s a start.

Those aren't considered "bright" sounding cables. Right? I have old-school copper Audioquest cables. It's, for sure, not bright.

As a side note, I tried the Audio Technica VM740ML. It was a little too bright for me. Soon after that trial, I went to MC cartridges. I like Denon MC cartridges if that helps you with my tastes.