MC cartridge under $400?
- Thread starter fedocable
- Start date
-
- Tags
- denon 301 mc cartridge
cafe latte
Addicted Member
Older Grado were soft and muted, the new Gold 2 is totally another thing, also up the range of the woodies again new versions are amazing very MC indeed actually better.
Chris
Who said I owned older grados? I think you have me confused with someone you have spoken to before about grados ?. Anyway sounds like your mind is set to get some Grado carts and that’s fine , all I’m saying is you may be giving up on a cart that you may actually like if you spend some time with it to get it right and a retip would be a start . Good luck .
Audiofreak71
cafe latte
Addicted Member
The Gold 2 and the new version of the woodies have only just come out, if you have own plenty of Grados as you said that generally means a few over time and as the new ones have just come out and still most suppliers are not stocking the new versions yet it is very likely you had not heard the new version which is totally different sounding to the old. Also it is possible but unlikely and very unlikely you own both a gold 2 and a top end new woody.
Chris
Like I said before your mind is set on Grados , good luck with your new carts. If you become a subscriber you can sell your DL-304 on Bartertown and I’m sure there will be plenty that will want to get it and put it to good use .
Audiofreak71
cafe latte
Addicted Member
I dont sell carts, I have many many many MC's many MI's and a fair few MM's. All I was getting at is there used to be a Grado sound, but the new ones sound totally different, anyone who had owned a few Grados as you said, if that included the new ones I would expect you to point out the totally different presentation of new ones over old. As you didnt and the new ones are still a bit scarce I assumed that you probably had not heard the new version as most have not. It is so much better that I also have a Platinum wood and the new gold 2 is way better than the woody, of course the Reference is better but this is comparing apples and oranges. There are many options which is what I said at the start. Audiophile hifi has become very MC tunnel vision and many think MC is the only way forward and the mags support this. I am not saying there are not some excellent MC carts I know there are as I own some, but after collecting carts for some time and now in the last few years dream come true I have a dedicated listening room 9mx8m with the hifi I always wanted doing lots of swapping and listening I have come to the conclusion that MM and MI are just as valid as MC and you can get the same results a lot cheaper. Those buying Stanton 881 and similar back in the day new this, it has just taken me a bit longer to work it out.. Re carts like the Grado, and 681 and of course the 881 to get the best from them they need to be on the correct arm (as do any carts). Problem is these group of carts needed a much lighter arm than is common now which is part of the problem with Grado and people getting the best from them. Most fit them to a medium compliance arm and judge them with totally wrong compliance match. I actually did similar with my 881, it sounded just nice nothing special, till one day setting up a new to me arm on my Orpheus a Hadcock which is a really light arm ie high compliance I think what cart would work well with this hmm.. Ah my 881! I was not prepared for quite how good it sounded, totally stunning simply due to being set up on an arm it was made for, same applies to Grado, but new ones do seem a bit more tolerant, but still seem to like a lighter arm. Same story too with the 681, most dont use the longhair brush and most use it on an arm that is way too heavy then complain it is sibilant and too soft up top. The brush will fix the compliance mismatch, problem is getting a decent brush..
Anyway bit off topic, yes I would get the Denon retipped as I get all my carts retipped when needed but just sayin there are many many many non MC option out there that will sound just as good and better for less money.
Chris
cafe latte
Addicted Member
Here is not the place, but maybe I should start a thread and we can discuss how the various technologies of cart work? MC ie coil moving if magnetic field or magnet moving in coil etc. Like I said topic for another place but result is the same.
Chris
Chris
I got the opwmixed up with you thinking you were the op so disregard all the conversations we had as you aren’t the person I was meaning to talk to about the 304 . Oh and yes this is not the place to thread jack about the subject you would like to talk about but a new thread made by you would be appropriate, sorry for the mix up.
Audiofreak71
cafe latte
Addicted Member
I was talking to about cart options before to replace the 304 and that with OP budget there was MM and MI options what I was discussing was on topic and valid. My talk about the new Grado was valid as they sound great for the money and how compliance is particularly important as OP may need to take this into consideration so no need to be terse.
Chris
I’m not being terse I was merely stating that the 304 is worth saving . Anyway since I know your a Grado rep I know where you stand and that’s cool but there’s no need to continue this conversation with you .
Peace
Audiofreak71
\\
There is not that many worthwhile MC cartridges under $1000 today. Probably cheapest you should look at is Hana SL MC. Though it is almost twice your stated budget. I do not think you can find anything below $500 at all.
twiiii
Lunatic Member
Maybe you can find a Demo Dynavector 10X5, or one with low hours. But you will probably be better off with something else new. Call Steve at Audio Classics, some times he will discount items during a weak moment. Can always mention my name first, but he will probably double the price before he gives you a 55% discount.
Balifly
Listening
There are still some production lomc Audio Technica with pretty good stylus in the sub $500.00 range.
AT-OC9ML/II
https://www.lpgear.com/product/ATC01.html
Audio-Technica AT-OC9/III
https://www.lpgear.com/product/ATOC9III.html
May even be better price out of Hong Kong (tax free zone) on Ebay.
AT-OC9ML/II
https://www.lpgear.com/product/ATC01.html
Audio-Technica AT-OC9/III
https://www.lpgear.com/product/ATOC9III.html
May even be better price out of Hong Kong (tax free zone) on Ebay.
ETI_5000
Super Member
The obvious replacement is the Denon DL-301MkII, which according to Needle Doctor's price, just fits within your budget. While it’s not as good as the DL-304, it’s certainly pretty good value, and much better than anything else for a similar price, because Denon paid off the design costs decades ago. It was basically an upgrade of the DL-301 using a similar body to the DL-304, and the much lighter cantilever (than the DL-301's) from the DL-303.
The DL-304 was basically an improved cartridge based on the DL-303, using a lighter cantilever and smaller, lighter coil formers, with a more rigid body.
The DL-304 was basically an improved cartridge based on the DL-303, using a lighter cantilever and smaller, lighter coil formers, with a more rigid body.
cafe latte
Addicted Member
I have no affiliation with Grado or any audio company I am actually a firefighter and I said all along I would retip the 304 and you are being rude too.
Chris
cafe latte
Addicted Member
This has been my point all along totally agree. Best starting point for MC carts is Benz Micro Glider, Dynavector 17d3, even the Grado (shh dont tell audiofreaks I said the banned word!!) start to become really special around the 1k mark, even the best of the Decca range is over 1k, the gold is where things start to really sing (I have a super gold in my collection). All this said there are some great MM and MI around the 500 to 600 dollar mark which with a limited budget is where I would be spending my money if the OP wants a change. One option if the OP wants a change is to sell the broken 304 to help fund the new cart, if coils are intact it will still have value.
Chris
cafe latte
Addicted Member
These actually dont sound bad and are worth the money but I would still advise saving a few hundred more, good advice though.There are still some production lomc Audio Technica with pretty good stylus in the sub $500.00 range.
AT-OC9ML/II
https://www.lpgear.com/product/ATC01.html
Audio-Technica AT-OC9/III
https://www.lpgear.com/product/ATOC9III.html
May even be better price out of Hong Kong (tax free zone) on Ebay.
Chris
Chill guy stop being so sensitive, your reading text not talking to my face , I’m not being rude , I’m just ending a conversation between us because there’s no need to go further . Now if you would like to have a discussion about equipment etc that’s fine but im not on here for internet squabble, so be easy take a breath and turn the sensitivity volume down a bit .
Edit: I also wasn’t saying you worked for Grado what I meant was that you are (Team Grado ) in other words you Like them and there’s nothing wrong with that .
Audiofreak71