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looking ofr new MC cart

rocknroll1

rocknroll1

Well-Known Member
I am looking to get my 1st MC cart. It will go on my VPI TNT TT with the uni pivot JMW 10 tonearm.
It will be hooked up to Emotiva XPA amp, XSP-1 pre amp and Monitor Audio gold 200 speakers. I currently am running a Ortofon 2mm black which will passed down to my other table (VPI HW 19 III). I listen mainly to classic rock, soul and R & B.. From my reading on AK I have I have narrowed it down to 4 options but don't know enough to choose from there.

Dynavector 20x2 and 17D3
Sumiko Blackbird
Audio Tech ART9
 
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I've heard good things about the Dynavector. I didn't see a Lyra in your list. Whichever way you end up going, I would love to hear it. I'm in your neck of the woods.
 
Dynavector makes great cartridges.

I would strongly recommend not skimping on the phono preamp. You have a nice turntable that is worthy of any equally capable phono preamp.
 
techguy0192 said:
Dynavector makes great cartridges.

I would strongly recommend not skimping on the phono preamp. You have a nice turntable that is worthy of any equally capable phono preamp.
Click to expand...
techguy0192 said:
Dynavector makes great cartridges.

I would strongly recommend not skimping on the phono preamp. You have a nice turntable that is worthy of any equally capable phono preamp.
Click to expand...

are you cunfussing the XSP-1 with the XPS-1? I have been very happy with the Xsp. Before this I had it hooked up a pioneer spec 1 and 2 before the emotive equipment and like this much better.
 
I am in Madison. I also have an XSP-1. It has a great MM preamp in it. However, the MC preamp leaves plenty to be desired (IMHO). I had to get an SUT to use a LOMC cart with mine. It made ALL the difference. Night and day - really.

David
 
Decibel_116 said:
I am in Madison. I also have an XSP-1. It has a great MM preamp in it. However, the MC preamp leaves plenty to be desired (IMHO). I had to get an SUT to use a LOMC cart with mine. It made ALL the difference. Night and day - really.

David
Click to expand...
What SUT did you get and would you still get an MC cart if you had known that before?
 
Yes, I would have. I am using an AT 630 SUT with an AT-OC9IIIML. It's a perfect match at 20 ohms and wasn't expensive at all. I can't tell you how much better it sounds than the internal preamp set at 100 ohms - or any setting for that matter. With the SUT the sound stage opens up and everything is crystal clear. You are welcome to come over and I can demonstrate the difference for you.
 
My vote as always is the Sumiko Blackbird or the Blue Point EVO III.

But I'm sure you'll be talked into a lower price cartridge and or a AT-OC9 or some kind of AT. Because as one person buys one and another ask like you are here and they buy one because more and more people tend to group think and recommend the same thing over and over, it's got to be the best right?

But the truth be told, just because one person likes the sound of something doesn't mean you will. This is why I never ask anyone for recommendations. I buy and try because that's the only way of knowing how it sounds in my system and to me.
 
I'm not recommending the OC9 just to be clear for his application. It's as far up the line as my sl-1200m5g will do any justice to. If I had a better table I would be looking at a Dynavector or a Lyra Etna.
 
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