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Looking for cartridge recommendation

S

Superboy1

Member
I recently hooked up my Pioneer PL-518, and have been enjoying vinyl again. Want to replace the cartridge, and picked up an Ortofon OM5, thinking it would be a good match for the arm with the weight plate installed. Haven't installed it yet, but I'm wondering if I should have made a different choice.

Any thoughts are appreciated...my vinyl is in fair to good condition, all rock and jazz.
 
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The OM 5 is conical but the OM 5E is elliptical. You should avoid a conical (spherical) stylus. The OM 5E is OK, but you might want to investigate getting a Shure M97xe or Audio Technica AT110E or AT120E. You can certainly go higher, even with an Ortofon with a higher number (10, 20, 30).
 
I'm running the exact same turntable (PL-518) with an old ortofon VMS3E that came with an other turntable. I was able to find a replacement stylus for $26...so I figured it was the cheapest way to go until I upgrade to the Shure M97xe. Like Lplover mentioned, mine too is eliptical (hence the E at the end of the name VSM3E).
 
Installed the OM-5E last night, and although I liked the sound, it seems to be WAY too compliant for the PL-518 arm. I set the tracking force very carefully...twice, but the whole setup seemed very nervous and frenetic. I swear it even bottomed out.

Would the AT 440 ML be a better match for this relatively massy arm? How about the Grados? Wouldn't the Shure M97xe be a mightmare since it's "low mass"

Thanks for all the insight!
 
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I think you're right about the Ortofon's compliance.
The M97xe is more tolerant than you'd expect a fairly high-compliance cartridge to be of a big, heavy S-shaped arm, even if you don't use the 'stabilizer'.

I think a Grado is an excellent choice, but opinion's quite divided on them. I like the Grado sound, a lot, and haven't been troubled by hum or "Grado Dance" problems in several tt's I've used them in (both high- and low-mass arms).
 
I run an AT440 on my Music Hall MM-2 and I like it very much. I set it to run at 1.75 grams and it does nicely. Lighter and it likes to jump out of the groove.
 
I also use a AT440 on my Sansui SR-838 and love it. Not sure how it would work on your table though.

Just my 2 cents...
mOOn
 
Running the AT440 on my PL-518 - seems to be a very good combination.

Also have the Shure M97xe and it sounds very nice also - just seems that the AT440 picks up less noise - maybe gets down in the groove better.

You can get a good deal on either one so shop around and you'll end up with some good sound.

Alan
 
Hey Alan - I noticed that the AT440 picks up less noise too. I've been transfering many of my old LP's to CD and really noticed a big difference in that area when I went back and re-listened to some of the recording I did previously with my Technics and Grado black.

Much cleaner sound and that's a good thing... Especially when you're trying to fix all the snap, crackle, pops before burning to CD. :music:

mOOn
 
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