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Have been offered 3 cartridges - which one to go for?

canuckaudiog

canuckaudiog

On a quest for high fidelity
Hey guys,

Now that my analog rig is set up proper, it is time to get a good cartridge.

I have a Denon DP-45f which uses a low mass tone arm, meaning high compliance should be best. I had a really nice AKG P15MD cart on there but the cantilever is bent so unfortunately it doesn't sound very good (lots of sibilance and distortion). I ended up using an Empire 100S as a backup and I am really astonished at how good it sounds even though it's a medium compliance cartridge, not really designed for the tonearm of the Denon.

So, I put up a trade offer for an extra phono I have lying around and a gentleman contacted me and has offered me 3 different cartridges to choose from.

One is a Stanton 681EEE new old stock
Two is an Audio Technica AT30E
Three is a Shure V15 Type III

If you were me, which one would you go for?

The phono I am using right now is my Luxman L-430 which as MM and MC capability. I've never used MC (which the AT30 is) and I know there are more specific requirements for it to work.. if someone could help me out here I'd appreciate that, since that may take the AT30 off the list. All I do know is its input sensitivity is 100 microvolts and can work with 100 or 300 ohm cartridges (whatever that means).

Thanks in advance fellas.
 
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Agree with beatcomber; . . . so, Shure to him, Stanton to me to keep the 981HZS company and the AT for you! . . . :D
 
beatcomber said:
The Shure would be my choice, followed by the Stanton.

I'm not a big AT fan.
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What particular reason would you take the Shure over the Stanton?

I just did a little research and the AT30 is a low compliance cartridge so it looks like that one is pretty much out.


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BUY the Stanton .. Preferably with a conical needle.
These are Very Much easier on those fragile record grooves than ANY elliptical stylus.
It doesn't take much imagination at all to comprehend what an ill fitting ellptical diamond point can do to extremely soft Vinyl grooves.
Jack hammer through butter is a fair analogy :-)
 
Hmm lots of varying opinions :-) I should have expected that.

Could you guys state why you prefer one over the other?

Also, based on what I'm reading, it looks like I shouldn't rule the AT30e out. Looks like my MC phono will work with it, and also it should work with the arm just fine.
 
canuckaudiog said:
What particular reason would you take the Shure over the Stanton?
Click to expand...

Because the available aftermarket styli for the Stanton do not sound that great to me. The best of the bunch (JICO Shibata) is just too hot on top.

My experience with the V15-III is limited, but I've liked every Shure that I've heard. The V15-III is famously highly accurate, with a ruler-flat frequency response when set up with the correct capacitance.
 
beatcomber said:
The Shure would be my choice, followed by the Stanton.

I'm not a big AT fan.
Click to expand...

Agreed. For me, it is the Shure sound. I have an M91ED and V15RS. I love the sound of both. I also have a Stanton 500 but prefer the sound of the Shure.
 
The Shure V15 was one of the first carts that I got tired of, just seemed boring and unable to sound alive, and energetic. I have two of the Stanton's one on an Empire and another on a Garrard, and to me I can hear much more of the nuances, fine details, the bass just the entire spectrum seems much more exciting and realistic. I recently purchased a Grado that I like a bit more, but it is a more expensive cart, so it makes sense that it would sound better. I just received a new cart from Comet Supply but have yet to give it a try, but it is a MC cart but you might want to consider purchasing one the DL-110 very cheap, brand new, and quite a few people have been pleased with them, It should be a good match for your Denon Table, it also has a fairly high output for a MC cart.
 
Ken Boyd said:
The Shure V15 was one of the first carts that I got tired of, just seemed boring and unable to sound alive, and energetic. I have two of the Stanton's one on an Empire and another on a Garrard, and to me I can hear much more of the nuances, fine details, the bass just the entire spectrum seems much more exciting and realistic. I recently purchased a Grado that I like a bit more, but it is a more expensive cart, so it makes sense that it would sound better. I just received a new cart from Comet Supply but have yet to give it a try, but it is a MC cart but you might want to consider purchasing one the DL-110 very cheap, brand new, and quite a few people have been pleased with them, It should be a good match for your Denon Table, it also has a fairly high output for a MC cart.
Click to expand...


I wish I could look at new carts but the reason I'm considering these three is because I was offered one of these three for a trade on a phono I don't need. I'm short on funds and I want to upgrade from the Empire 100s I am using (which isn't a bad cartridge at all by the way, but it's low end and I know I could get more performance with a nicer cartridge).


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Like Glenn said it is going to boil down to stylus availability more than anything else, unless all three cartridges have good OEM ones on them now. The only one with reasonably priced and decent sounding aftermarket styli is the Shure.
 
Good point. As far as I know the styli are fine - Stanton is reported to be NOS, and he said the other 2 should be in fine shape.


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Here is my take, having a NOS stylus is great for the Stanton but like the Shure it's not for everyone. Between the three, the Shure is what I would think is the most neutral. I like the V15 Type III had a small handful of them, but to my ears the Type VMR was a bit more dynamic and more suitable for my tone arms (I needed the brush). The Stanton I found to have a bit more treble and a bit more fatiguing to me. But, in either case in terms of the best value, as we all know our ears are different, the Stanton is probably the better choice.

That being said, I do like some Audio Technica cartridges but, I haven't heard the AT30E so I can't comment. However, I rather enjoy the AT12s.
 
mythless said:
Here is my take, having a NOS stylus is great for the Stanton but like the Shure it's not for everyone. Between the three, the Shure is what I would think is the most neutral. I like the V15 Type III had a small handful of them, but to my ears the Type VMR was a bit more dynamic and more suitable for my tone arms (I needed the brush). The Stanton I found to have a bit more treble and a bit more fatiguing to me. But, in either case in terms of the best value, as we all know our ears are different, the Stanton is probably the better choice.

That being said, I do like some Audio Technica cartridges but, I haven't heard the AT30E so I can't comment. However, I rather enjoy the AT12s.
Click to expand...


From what I have read on the AT30e (which isn't much) it was about $1k new, and on the entry on vinyl engine these were handmade cartridges with a dual moving coil. Not sure what this all means, but it certainly sets itself apart from the other two by being an MC cart. I've always wanted to try MC, but of course that doesn't necessarily make it the right choice.


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canuckaudiog said:
From what I have read on the AT30e (which isn't much) it was about $1k new, and on the entry on vinyl engine these were handmade cartridges with a dual moving coil. Not sure what this all means, but it certainly sets itself apart from the other two by being an MC cart. I've always wanted to try MC, but of course that doesn't necessarily make it the right choice.


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Click to expand...

If that is the case, at least for myself the AT30e would be a top interest pick for sure. I am guessing the seller isn't local and an audition would be impossible. Hrmmm, I would say all 3 are probably on even footing, at least from my perspective.
 
mythless said:
If that is the case, at least for myself the AT30e would be a top interest pick for sure. I am guessing the seller isn't local and an audition would be impossible. Hrmmm, I would say all 3 are probably on even footing, at least from my perspective.
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Actually he is, and he wants me to bring my turntable over to align the cartridge for me. Do you think it would be asking too much to try all 3 out?


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canuckaudiog said:
Actually he is, and he wants me to bring my turntable over to align the cartridge for me. Do you think it would be asking too much to try all 3 out?


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Click to expand...

Hrmmm, well if you don't have any extra headshells, it might be somewhat inconvenient. But, I would ask the seller first and bring some extra headshell leads, in case of minor accidents. However, I would probably understand if he doesn't want to audition the Stanton being NOS. Best to ask.
 
mythless said:
Hrmmm, well if you don't have any extra headshells, it might be somewhat inconvenient. But, I would ask the seller first and bring some extra headshell leads, in case of minor accidents. However, I would probably understand if he doesn't want to audition the Stanton being NOS. Best to ask.
Click to expand...


Hmm.. Good point. I don't have extra leads or headshells.

I think I may just have to go with the gut on this one, but I won't be heading over there likely until tomorrow night, so I welcome any more input on the 3. So far it seems the Shure is more preferable to the Stanton, but not many have any experience with the AT30e (which is understandable, it seems to be pretty rare).


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