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Please help me pick a cartridge for SL1200mk2!

Srcampana

Srcampana

New Member
Hi. I got my SL1200mk2 last week without a cartridge, headshell, or mat. I've been reading for hours and hours and just feel like I'm going in circles at this point. Please help! I've ordered the headshell from KAB. I think I'm going to go with one of Jim's mats over at Applied Fidelity (unless anyone wants to steer me in another direction). And for a phono preamp I was going to go with an Art DJPre II and order the Hagerman Cornet 3 on kickstarter (I won't get it till July) - again, unless others have recommendations for me.

As for the cartridges, I've narrowed it down to:
- Shure M97xe
- Shure M97xe with JICO SAS
- AT440mla
- AT150mlx
- Shure V15 III (there are a bunch of eBay, not sure about the stylus)

Any and all advice is welcome! I am new to this so please: layman's terms only. :thmbsp: Thank you!!
 
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If it is not too late - reach out to Kevin at KAB - and get something from him - he will even mount it for you properly at no extra charge on the headshell you are buying. His KAB Ortofon ProS30 (no headshell required) is one of my favorites. Below that one - I really like the AT440mla.
 
AT440MLa - especially if you like rock, electronic, punk, etc.
I have the stock mat, KAB sells that as well.
 
Also consider a new old stock Acutex M312 III STR. About $80 shipped from an Italian seller on eBay, and well worth it.
 
Agreed the Acutex is an excellent choice. I liked mine so much I bought a second one. Shibata stylus and will track almost anything.
 
skriefal said:
Also consider a new old stock Acutex M312 III STR. About $80 shipped from an Italian seller on eBay, and well worth it.
Click to expand...

Any idea who the seller is? Or have a link? After multiple searches I can't find it (eBay search algorithm varies by platform - iOS app finds no results at all, mobile we page shows 3 related, regular site showed 0 results with 24 related). Thanks!

Please keep the recommendations coming!
 
Also a Shure 91ED. With Jiko SAS, even better. Ortofon 2M Black is excellent. The V15 III is also a good match. I've got the 97xe, and found it to be just ok.
 
When I mounted an M97 on the 1200 I was ecstatic with the detail and soundstage. Some say it's sterile but to me it just reproduces accurately without coloration.

Not that any other cart that I mounted was bad. I've tried 681EEE, Ortofon MC20 and 25 variants including fine line. All worked well for me with the MC giving a more airy sound with more accurate and controlled bass.
 
Srcampana said:
Hi. I got my SL1200mk2 last week without a cartridge, headshell, or mat. I've been reading for hours and hours and just feel like I'm going in circles at this point. Please help! I've ordered the headshell from KAB. I think I'm going to go with one of Jim's mats over at Applied Fidelity (unless anyone wants to steer me in another direction). And for a phono preamp I was going to go with an Art DJPre II and order the Hagerman Cornet 3 on kickstarter (I won't get it till July) - again, unless others have recommendations for me.

As for the cartridges, I've narrowed it down to:
- Shure M97xe
- Shure M97xe with JICO SAS
- AT440mla
- AT150mlx
- Shure V15 III (there are a bunch of eBay, not sure about the stylus)

Any and all advice is welcome! I am new to this so please: layman's terms only. :thmbsp: Thank you!!
Click to expand...

What's your budget?

I'm asking because the carts you have mentioned are pretty well "budget" carts. They're ok, but you can do much better on that arm.

So, ........ what's your budget?
 
the_nines said:
What's your budget?

I'm asking because the carts you have mentioned are pretty well "budget" carts. They're ok, but you can do much better on that arm.

So, ........ what's your budget?
Click to expand...

Well, as I'm a grad student and already laying out for the TT, preamp, mat, and more records, etc., my budget is pretty limited. I'd rather buy something I'm happy with and upgrade things as time goes on. And I'd rather dampen and rewire the tonearm and do an international power system upgrade before dropping real money on a cartridge. That being said, if the difference between a DV10x5 and a Shure 97 is ginormous, I'd definitely consider it. However, if you're talking about anything else in the DV line, not anytime soon.
 
Srcampana said:
Well, as I'm a grad student and already laying out for the TT, preamp, mat, and more records, etc., my budget is pretty limited. I'd rather buy something I'm happy with and upgrade things as time goes on. And I'd rather dampen and rewire the tonearm and do an international power system upgrade before dropping real money on a cartridge. That being said, if the difference between a DV10x5 and a Shure 97 is ginormous, I'd definitely consider it. However, if you're talking about anything else in the DV line, not anytime soon.
Click to expand...

I understand.

And again, that's a great turntable!
 
Thanks everyone for your advice!! I ordered that Acutex from the Italian ebayer. I'm still in the market for a second cartridge, as the Acutex was much less expensive than what I had planned.

People mentioned the Ortofon 2M Bronze and the AT150mlx...and they seem happy with both. Funny enough, no one mentioned liking the Shure M97xe with JICO SAS stylus (which is what I originally had planned on getting). So I'm still just reading reviews. Any additional advice would be appreciated. :)
 
Srcampana said:
Funny enough, no one mentioned liking the Shure M97xe with JICO SAS stylus (which is what I originally had planned on getting). So I'm still just reading reviews. Any additional advice would be appreciated. :)
Click to expand...

Over at the Steve Hoffman Forum there are many fans of the M97xe with JICO SAS stylus. I'm considering getting one myself.
 
I have a Nagaoka MP11, seems to go well with my Technics SL-5210, I have only pretty much got into vinyl again, the 1200 is an awesome TT, all so pricey though today. Techradar and whathifi, and more informed members will give some more advice :)
 
The M97xE w/ Jico SAS would be something I with consider. Definitely.

I have a DL 110 on my Technics and I like it.
 
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