Help Choosing a New Cartridge....and the fork in the road

[forceof1]

I need to select a new cart/stylus for my Pioneer PL-L1000. I'm pretty budget limited ($200). My Nikko preamp allows me to select between MM and MC. On the MC side I can only afford the Denon DL 103. Is there a MM that I should consider that would give me more than the Denon offers. I've never had a MC. I know there's some great answers out there.........Thank You!!




Marantz 250 amp, Nikko Beta 50 preamp, Pioneer PL-L1000 table, Bose 601 series II.
Kenwood KA-405, Sansui 2050c table, NHT 1.5

 

[tnsilver]

Checkout a Denon DL-110. At $180 it's cheaper than a DL-103 and a little more refined. It is a high output MC, so works with both MM and MC inputs. It certainly outperforms most, but the top end MM carts.

 

[forceof1]

Thank you tnsilver

 

[Searing75]

I second the DL-110!

 

[Crab33]

I also think the DL-110 would be a good choice, but it depends on the kind of sound you like. I find the DL-110 to be quite crisp but at the same time has a touch of warmth with a nice bass quality.

Am I right in thinking that the PL-L1000 has a low-mass arm? The DL-103 is low-compliance, so wouldn't be a good theoretical match for a light arm. You might be OK with the DL-110 though. With an MC, bear in mind that you'll have to replace the whole cartridge every time the stylus wears out.

Amongst the MMs, the Ortofon 2M Blue would be a good alternative, but it's a little brighter.

 

[MRL_Audio]

+1 on the DL-110. Great value.

 

[Jelloalien1]

If you prefer something with a user replaceable stylus (and that can be a bit easier to upgrade with a stylus swap later), check out a nagaoka mp110.

The denon dl110 would still be my choice of the two, but nagaoka's are pretty sweet

 

[Tiver]

Here is a thread on VE which tries to sort out the compliance requirements for a desired cartridge for the PL-L1000

 

[forceof1]

Here is a thread on VE which tries to sort out the compliance requirements for a desired cartridge for the PL-L1000

Thank you for the link, I need to have a greater understanding about

I also think the DL-110 would be a good choice, but it depends on the kind of sound you like. I find the DL-110 to be quite crisp but at the same time has a touch of warmth with a nice bass quality.

Am I right in thinking that the PL-L1000 has a low-mass arm? The DL-103 is low-compliance, so wouldn't be a good theoretical match for a light arm. You might be OK with the DL-110 though. With an MC, bear in mind that you'll have to replace the whole cartridge every time the stylus wears out.

That has been a consideration but at that price point and say a couple of years or so, it's worth it.

Amongst the MMs, the Ortofon 2M Blue would be a good alternative, but it's a little brighter.

compliance

 

[Crab33]

Thank you for the link, I need to have a greater understanding about compliance

There is some introductory info about compliance on the terminology page of a website I'm producing - it's a fairly general description, but it might be useful. If you look up Compliance to start with, that will take you to other related terms.

www.phono-cartridge-reviews.co.uk/terminology-concepts/

Hope it helps.