Good Cartridge match for JVC QL-7 Medium-mass Arm?

[kpaxfaq]

I currently have a Shure M97XE with stock stylus on my JVC QL-7. From all the information I can gather the JVC has a quality medium-mass tonearm with an effective mass of 14 grams. The head shell is the stock 10 gram one.

I'm using a Yamaha C-4 preamp with 2 MM and 1 MC phono stage so my options are wide open.

My price range is up to $1,000. I am not looking to necessarily spend that much if it's not deemed necessary.

I'm looking mainly to find out which carts in that range would be a good match to my arm. I might spend as much as I've got, I might get something for half that price and spend the rest on music. Time will tell. I've been reading about compliance and while I understand the basics of it to a point I know there are many people here who know a heck of a lot more. :yes:

Once I at least know which carts might match well to the parameters of my arm then I can go wade through the details of each :thmbsp:

In case one would need more information about that table then I supplied, here's the link to the vinyl engine page. http://www.vinylengine.com/library/jvc/ql-7.shtml

 

[ETI_5000]

Nice turntable. It will do best with a cartridge which has a recommended tracking force of 1.7-2.5g, which will give the proper compliance for the tonearm. That includes the M97xE running with the brush down at 1.75g, but I’ve assumed you want to spend a bit more to get something better, so I’ve started at $200. There are a lot of excellent cartridges in the $200-$1000 range that meet that criteria, so here’s a list, sorted into MM, and high and low output MC, from cheapest to most expensive:

MM: Goldring G 2100, Ortofon 2M Blue, Nagaoka MP-150, Goldring G 2200, Rega Elys 2, Shelter 201, Goldring 1006, Goldring G 2300, Clearaudio Performer v2 Ebony, Goldring 1012 GX, Goldring 1022 GX, Goldring 1042, Rega Exact, Clearaudio Artist v2 Ebony, Goldring G 2400, Goldring G 2500, Roksan Corus Silver, London Decca Maroon

HOMC: Ortofon MC-3 Turbo, Sumiko Blue Point No. 2, Benz MC Silver, Dynavector 10X5, Sumiko Blue Point Special Evo III, Ortofon X5-MC, Goldring Eroica H, Dynavector 20X2 High Output, Benz Ace SH, Goldring Elite, Clearaudio Virtuoso v2 Ebony

LOMC: Denon DL-103, Ortofon Vivo Red, Denon DL-103R, Audio Technica F7, Ortofon Vivo Blue, Benz MC Gold, Audio Tecnica AT33EV, Ortofon Rondo Red, Goldring Eroica LX, Audio-Technica OC9ML/III, Ortofon Rondo Blue, Clearaudio Concept MC, Dynavector 20X2 Low Output, Ortofon MC20 Super, Benz Ace SM, Benz Ace SL, ZYX R-50 Bloom H, ZYX R-50 Bloom

You should be able to pick something worthwhile out of that lot - I doubt there will be too many that don't sound good.

 

[kpaxfaq]

Thanks a million, what a response!

 

[kpaxfaq]

So tracking force is the best indication of capatability? I was running compliance figures through different calculators using tonearm mass and cartridge weight.

 

[ETI_5000]

So tracking force is the best indication of capatability? I was running compliance figures through different calculators using tonearm mass and cartridge weight.

Yes. The problem is that it's hard to get compliance figures that are directly comparable between manufacturers, as many had their own way of measuring them. Not all gave the the effective mass of a tonearm, either. But compliance is inversely proportional to tracking weight.

 

[melofelo]

My price range is up to $1,000. I am not looking to necessarily spend that much if it's not deemed necessary.

the standard at95e works well in a medium effective mass arm...you might add a better stylus when the basic one is due for replacement...
Good as the JVC might be....with that big chunk of change leftover...i'd give a 3 point suspended with something like a rega rb250 or linn akito a critical listen before throwing more money at your jvc headshell...:scratch2:
but call me contentious...

 

[kpaxfaq]

the standard at95e works well in a medium effective mass arm...you might add a better stylus when the basic one is due for replacement...
Good as the JVC might be....with that big chunk of change leftover...i'd give a 3 point suspended with something like a rega rb250 or linn akito a critical listen before throwing more money at your jvc headshell...:scratch2:
but call me contentious...

Hey I'm open to suggestions no offense taken I'm still newer in my vinyl journey and I have a solid system, rcm, and turntable that I'm happy with. I figured it's time to play with the small things now that I ought to be able to appreciate the difference! :thmbsp:

 

[kpaxfaq]

Yes. The problem is that it's hard to get compliance figures that are directly comparable between manufacturers, as many had their own way of measuring them. Not all gave the the effective mass of a tonearm, either. But compliance is inversely proportional to tracking weight.

Thanks for clearing that up :yes:

 

[kpaxfaq]

Just a follow up to this thread...

After considering many expensive options I decided to stick with the M97XE I have already and bought a JICO SAS stylus to see what all the hype I've read about. My thinking was that if I wasn't impressed or the performance on a lower compliance arm then desired for this cart wasn't cutting it I'd save the combo for the second turntable I want to get down the line and go after something else.

The initial impression is that of shock how much I was missing before. It definitely bests the Goldring 1012GX my friend let me borrow which clearly bested the stock shure M97XE which I hope it would. But to it's credit has a high hours well-cared for stylus so the comparison may not be entirely fair. I'd be curious to throw a new 1042 stylus on it and have a little shootout. Even if they were equal the JICO SAS/M97XE wins for lower cost of admission and replacement....

I'm going to stop there and play some more albums and then will give my thoughts after the honeymoon period in a separate thread :thmbsp:

 

[classic carl]

Kory,
Did you pick up another headshell or did you just swap carts? I'd like to hear the SAS on that Shure.
Oh, and I need to borrow your tracking force gage.

 

[beej]

If you want to try something a little different that won't break the bank I'd follow up on melofelo's recommendation re: AT95e. One of the carts I'm running on my Tech sl1200 mk2 (medium mass arm) is the AT95e but with an upgraded HE stylus. Not a huge chunk of change, a decidedly different sound than the M97xE and matches very well on a medium mass arm. LPGear isn't offering the HE stylus anymore; they're substituting the VL. http://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGATN95VL.html. Still not horribly expensive.

 

[kpaxfaq]

Kory,
Did you pick up another headshell or did you just swap carts? I'd like to hear the SAS on that Shure.
Oh, and I need to borrow your tracking force gage.

I swapped and realigned again. Since I've done it a few times now it doesn't take long anymore.

I'll have to see what's up this weekend maybe you can stop by if you want to hear the SAS/grab my tracking force gauge. I'm thinking Sunday ought to be wide open because we're probably going to look at a bunch of houses Saturday. My fridge is all stocked up with cold Yuengling :yes:

Make shure to bring a record you're really familiar with. That ought to help you judge better. I'm curious what you'll think. Good or unimpressed!

 

[kpaxfaq]

If you want to try something a little different that won't break the bank I'd follow up on melofelo's recommendation re: AT95e. One of the carts I'm running on my Tech sl1200 mk2 (medium mass arm) is the AT95e but with an upgraded HE stylus. Not a huge chunk of change, a decidedly different sound than the M97xE and matches very well on a medium mass arm. LPGear isn't offering the HE stylus anymore; they're substituting the VL. http://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGATN95VL.html. Still not horribly expensive.

I appreciate the suggestion, I will keep this thread in the back of my mind for future reference. If my next table has a high compliance arm I'll put the shure on there and try some of these recommendations on the JVC. :thmbsp:

 

[classic carl]

I swapped and realigned again. Since I've done it a few times now it doesn't take long anymore.

I'll have to see what's up this weekend maybe you can stop by if you want to hear the SAS/grab my tracking force gauge. I'm thinking Sunday ought to be wide open because we're probably going to look at a bunch of houses Saturday. My fridge is all stocked up with cold Yuengling :yes:

Make shure to bring a record you're really familiar with. That ought to help you judge better. I'm curious what you'll think. Good or unimpressed!

Sounds like a plan. I'll get back to you. I'm shooting the District 10 AAA wrestling tournament Friday and Saturday. No plans for Sunday, except for cold Yuenglings. :beer: