New or old cartridge?

[whell]

Right now I'm really leaning towards the Ortofon 2M Red. I'll definitely let you guys know which way I go! Thanks again and many happy hours of vinyl listening to you all!

I just posted this in another thread: its noteworthy that the 2M Red is a lower compliance cartridge than the OM 20. It might not make a huge difference. However, it does suggest that for a lower mass tonearm like the dual, the OM 20 would be a bit better match.

 

[MuthaFunk]

Nagaoka MP11 - Boron!!

I have the following carts:

Accuphase AC-1
Shure V15 type IV with excellent original stylus and SAS
Grado Black
Grado Z+
AT440MLa
Shure 93e ? i think?
and my Nagaoka MP11 -Boron's (2 of them)

All the carts I have have thier strengths but I am absolutley in love with the MP11 Boron!! It's the one I listen to the most. The low end is where it wins me over. Smooth, deep and controled. The mids are quite clear with almost a grado warmth about them. The highs are smooth and listenable. Not tiring in any way. (AT440MLa sometimes made me fatigued)

It is not a flat sounding cart but it does have an excellent sound. I had to purchase a second one just so I could have a backup when the first one goes. If you know where I may get a third for a good price, PM me!!! Or get it yourself and enjoy!

 

[lini]

I just posted this in another thread: its noteworthy that the 2M Red is a lower compliance cartridge than the OM 20. It might not make a huge difference. However, it does suggest that for a lower mass tonearm like the dual, the OM 20 would be a bit better match.

Oh, well, compliance only tells half the story - one should also keep the cartridge weight in mind. And while the 2M should have some 5 cu less, it's also almost twice the weight of the OM (or even three times, if the OM is used without its weight plate in the top of its body). That should boil down to pretty much the same in the end...

danj: A neat Stanton/Pickering surely wouldn't be a bad idea for that nice old Dual. Maybe there's still that shop over on eBay UK which used to offer Pickering XV15-625Es together with two original replacement needles for some 70 quid, which would seem to be quite a fair deal, I'd think.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[ranf1970]

I just posted this in another thread: its noteworthy that the 2M Red is a lower compliance cartridge than the OM 20. It might not make a huge difference. However, it does suggest that for a lower mass tonearm like the dual, the OM 20 would be a bit better match.

I'm just worried about the price. I can get the 2M Red for $100 but the Super OM 20 would run me $200. That is a little more than I can afford right now. What about the Super OM 10? Any comments on that one? I know the 20 and 30 are "highly recommended" and out of my range but would starting with a 10 be a good choice? What about Super OM 10 vs. 2M Red? Thanks!

 

[ranf1970]

I have the following carts:

Accuphase AC-1
Shure V type IV with excellent original stylus and SAS
Grado Black
Grado Z+
AT440MLa
Shure 93e ? i think?
and my Nagaoka MP11 -Boron's (2 of them)

All the carts I have have thier strengths but I am absolutley in love with the MP11 Boron!! It's the one I listen to the most. The low end is where it wins me over. Smooth, deep and controled. The mids are quite clear with almost a grado warmth about them. The highs are smooth and listenable. Not tiring in any way. (AT440MLa sometimes made me fatigued)

It is not a flat sounding cart but it does have an excellent sound. I had to purchase a second one just so I could have a backup when the first one goes. If you know where I may get a third for a good price, PM me!!! Or get it yourself and enjoy!

Someone took the Nagaoka before me. whell and BrocLuno got me thinking whether the stylus was a Boron original/replacement (if it had been replaced) or just a regular MP-11 one so I became hesitant to bid on it. Thanks for the info, though!

 

[jazzgoose]

I have heard good things about the Ortofons Red, Blue, and Black. I maybe should have went that route originally. From now on I am sticking to cartridge where I can easily change the stylus out. The Denon doesn't offer this which was oversight on my part. Being new to the game as I said - well I should have went after something I could change in the case of damage or misuse on my part.

I did just get a turntable that has an AT2214SH which I hear is a great cart with Shibata style stylus. A little spending to replace the stylus but worth it from what I can tell.

I have always been interested in the MP-11 but then I see it is ultra hard to find the boron repacement stylus. And then I assume that some new MP-11's are not boron either? Is it worth buying one that isn't boron? Do they still make the boron MP-11?

 

[MuthaFunk]

I have always been interested in the MP-11 but then I see it is ultra hard to find the boron repacement stylus. And then I assume that some new MP-11's are not boron either? Is it worth buying one that isn't boron? Do they still make the boron MP-11?

It is hard to find replacement stylus. The plain MP-11 may be a good cartridge for the money but I wasn't willing to chance it because I'm so happy with the sound of the Boron. It should be noted that I have my MP-11 Borons on fairly light arms. (Systemdek IIX and Oracle Paris Stock arms)Both based on the Jelco 250.

Unless they are specified as "Boron" or MP-11B, it will not have the Boron Cantilever. The plain MP-11 is made with an aluminum cantaliever. They do not make the Boron MP-11 stylus however they make the MP-20 which has a Boron cantaliever.

I've been told by the Nagaoka rep that the MP-11 Body and the MP-20 are not the same. He said the MP-20 stylus would work on the MP-11 body but he suggested the sound would not be the same as my current MP-11 Boron stylus.

Before I found a second MP11-Boron I had resolved to try a complete MP-20.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Hi,

The poster's Dual is a 1966-1967 model. Pre-lower mass tonearm design. The Ortofon 2M Red is a nice match for that arm. The Audio-Technica AT 11-E is superb for this application.

 

[jazzgoose]

I was running the AT 11E with decent enough results, but I was just "informed" it was only a step up from an introductory cart. Any opinions from others on this one? It sounded pretty clean to me with decent playback across the sprectrum. The bass wasn't quite as solid as my Denon but acceptable.

 

[catman]

G'day all, as far as I know the Ortofon Super OM range has now been discontinued and replaced by the Ortofon 2M range.

I have an Ortofon 2M Red, and it is excellent. Regards, catman.

 

[BrocLuno]

Absolutely !!

I'm just worried about the price. I can get the 2M Red for $100 but the Super OM 20 would run me $200. That is a little more than I can afford right now. What about the Super OM 10? Any comments on that one? I know the 20 and 30 are "highly recommended" and out of my range but would starting with a 10 be a good choice? What about Super OM 10 vs. 2M Red? Thanks!

Sure, you can start with the OM10. Running it on a low mass Dual arm, you can try it with and without the head weight. Get a real good feel for setup and what it likes. Then, when the budget gets a little better, just slip an 20 stylus assembly on and you are golden. And, you'll always have the 10 stylus for test playing used vinyl or loaner records from friends, etc. Nice way to go. Changing stylus assemblies should not change the set-up, so once it's dialed in, you should be good to go :thmbsp:

 

[ranf1970]

Once again, I would like to thank everyone for their input. Well, I thought at this point the best cartridge to use would be the AT120E/T. I found it on Garage'A Records for $59.95 and couldn't pass up the deal. I hope that it works well with my TT and I didn't make a mistake. Any input? Thanks again!