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Moderate price MC cart suggestions

oldvinyldude

oldvinyldude

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I have recently refurbished a Pioneer PL50 turntable. New (correct) belt, new thrust bearing, clean and lubricate, etc.

I have other tables designed for high compliance carts, but I understand this table with it's original arm, would be considered mid mass, so a MC cart might match up well-but correct me if my statement is inaccurate!

I would like to try tipping my toes into the MC world. I have an integrated Kenwood KA7002, which has a MC setting. My calculations suggest 40 db gain over MM input.

My current favorite cart (and has been for decades), is an original Stanton 681EEE, and I listen to pop\rock primarily.

My budget is $300ish, so would like feedback on:
Is table\arm suitable for a MC, would the Kenwood be suitable for a LOMC, and what carts might be in my price range?

Not wanting to break the bank, so not willing to start upgrading other components now.

Thoughts?
 
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There is always the Denon DL-103. Plenty to read up about this cart, it has a cult like following.
I use one into a Denon AU320 SUT and than into my phono preamp. Sounds great!

BillWojo
 
Denon DL-103 or DL-110 (if they still make them). MC’s normally start at around $5-600. With better options as one moves up the price range

681EEE is no slouch and can go toe to toe with that mc cart price range.
 
Factoring in the used market, the sky is the limit with some patience. I recently picked up a Dynavector Karat 23R for $300. I think originally it was around $1500? It’s an amazing cart that when new, was WAY over my budget for cart.
 
If you can stretch the budget to $400.00, the Denon 301mkII is seriously good. I've had a ton of cartridges over the years, MM and MC, in the $200-$1000 range and the 301mkII is as good as the very best of them.

I've only got 2hrs on it so far too, and with a zero effort setup (overhang gauge, set 1.4g on the counterweight, quick eyeball on the VTA) it's blowing my mind. It's fast, punchy, and smooth, and the bass is deep and tight. I can't say enough good about this cart. I'm seriously tempted to buy another one in case they stop making them or something.
 
My experience with cartridges in that price range is pretty positive for most of what I have tried. I've had Denon DL-160 HOMC and DL-300 LOMC, AT OC9ii and a Sumiko Blackbird HOMC(a bit pricier). I have listened to a couple Benz Micro that a good friend has. They all have a quality sound and I wouldn't feel that any would be a mistake to have for a while.

That brings me to the point. Suppose you just jump in on a Denon 301MKii. I just saw it for $329 at a site called Safe and Sound. I have not bought from them, but they have a physical address and website and also an Amazon Storefront (although the Amazon store is higher priced). At that price you could likely buy it and spin it for 100+ hours and still sell it used on Barter Town for 80-85% of what you paid if you decided you didn't like it. I have no experience with this seller.

There will be comments about whether or not there are gains to be made when choosing any piece of the chain and some may suggest pros and cons for budget friendly MC. But the plain truth is you won't know what it will sound like unless you actually have it to listen to.
 
The Kenwood KA-7200 lists sensitivity of the MC phono at 0.06mV, which translates to a gain of 70dB for 200mV, so plenty of gain, and the 200 ohm input impedance will work with most LOMC carts, but you'd probably want to use a true low output cart with that much gain.

The Pioneer PL 50 tonearm effective mass is probably on the high side of medium, as you expected, so you do need to be a little careful with some of the relatively high compliance (> 20cu @ 10 Hz) carts being mentioned, such as the AT-OC9 and Denon 301 MKII, since the tonearm resonance will be below the nominal range. Will certainly work OK, but not optimal.

There aren't many LOMC carts below $300 these days, so you are pretty limited. I do have the AT-OC9/III which I got for around $349 before it was discontinued, and it does sound good, but also have the new AT-OC9XML which I like a lot more. It is about $465 direct from Audio Technica with their normal 15% discount code, but as mentioned, they are relatively high compliance, probably around 25cu @ 10 Hz per my ~13g tonearm resonance measurements (around 7Hz).
 
I recommend the AT33PTG/ii or the Denon DL-304 I still own the AT excellent daily cart and the 304 was great as well. If you’re patient you may be able to find either one in the $300ish range.

Audiofreak71
 
Either the Denon DL-301mkII or the Audio Technica OC9II or III A are high value LOMC cartridges. Something to think about. The OC9 does well at the standard 100ohm loading of most preamps. The Denon prefers above 400 ohms.
 
Timely thread. I just got a Denon DL-301 MKII today. It sounds amazing, but it is pretty high compliance (especially for a moving coil cartridge). I'm running it on a low mass tonearm (8g effective mass) at a VTF of 1.4g, with an input impedance of 470 ohm and 60dB of gain.

Anyone know the effective mass of the OP's tonearm? Unless it's pretty low, the DL-301 MKII, as wonderful as it is, may not be a good match.
 
MCM_Fan said:
Timely thread. I just got a Denon DL-301 MKII today. It sounds amazing, but it is pretty high compliance (especially for a moving coil cartridge). I'm running it on a low mass tonearm (8g effective mass) at a VTF of 1.4g, with an input impedance of 470 ohm and 60dB of gain.

Anyone know the effective mass of the OP's tonearm? Unless it's pretty low, the DL-301 MKII, as wonderful as it is, may not be a good match.
Click to expand...

Definitely something to consider, he has a medium mass arm though, should be ok as the 301 MKII is on the lower side of high compliance compared to something truly high compliance like the Ortofon OM Super 40 etc.
 
Bootbox said:
Definitely something to consider, he has a medium mass arm though, should be ok as the 301 MKII is on the lower side of high compliance compared to something truly high compliance like the Ortofon OM Super 40 etc.
Click to expand...

I haven't been able to find the official spec on the effective mass of the Pioneer PL-50, but looking at photos of the arm and knowing the mass of other comparable arms, I'd guesstimate it to be around 16g, maybe even a little higher. I doubt if it's any lower than that. That table was made at a time before high compliance carts became popular with the masses. It most likely came with a conical cartridge tracking in the 2.5 - 3g range

When researching the DL-301 MK, the consensus seems to be the dynamic compliance at 10Hz is in the 22 - 24cu range. That would put the resonance frequency at just a hair below 7 Hz. The last cart I purchased was a Nagaoka MP-200. That cart had similar dynamic compliance. I originally bought it for a table with a 17g effective mass tonearm, but it REALLY came alive when I moved it to a lighter (8g effective mass) arm. The DL-301 MKII will work on his PL-50, but it won't be performing at it's optimum. I'm sure it will still sound very good, it's a lovely sounding cartridge, but he may not be hearing it at it's absolute best.
 
The Denon 103 was made in many different flavors for different applications. If you can source a used DL-103D or S, the compliance might be a better match to the tonearm.
 
Audio Technica AT-F7, OC9XEB, OC9XEN. Denon DL-301 MKII.

Have the DL-301 MKII, excellent cartridge for used records! Stylus very quiet in the groove. Beautiful full rich sounding, excellent deep bass!
 
The 0.06mV (60µV) sensitivity of that input was designed to handle the very LOMC Ortofon MC20 level cartridges so it should handle any moving coil you want to plug in.

A friend was using the AT 440MLa and borrowed an MC20. Came back thinking the bass wasn't quite there...came back again saying the bass is there, it is more accurate and I don't need this AT anymore. Moved on to a few different MCs settling on the MC30Super and a Dynavector. I think he bought them used in good shape.
 
Ilikevinyl said:
Audio Technica AT-F7, OC9XEB, OC9XEN. Denon DL-301 MKII.

Have the DL-301 MKII, excellent cartridge for used records! Stylus very quiet in the groove. Beautiful full rich sounding, excellent deep bass!
Click to expand...

I've been running mine less than 24 hours, but wholeheartedly agree with both of your points. It's very quiet in the groove (so is my Signet TK10ML), but it definitely beats the Signet in the bass and lower midrange frequencies. It has a great full sounding bottom end to go with outstanding separation and imaging. It's just a VERY pleasant sounding, enjoyable cartridge.
 
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