Project turntable

[Mrky]

Hi I've have a pro-ject 1 xpression mrk ll turntable . And it runs like a dream. It come fitted with a ortofon omb cartridge with the 10 stylus. Could be what was fitted from new so over 10years.
So my Question is
I have a audio technica at3600l cartridge and stylus I can fit to it. But not sure if it's a good idea. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Or could this be a step backwards. Should I just update stylus on ortofon omb cartridge? Help
Thanks Mark

 

[Mrky]

Hi I've have a pro-ject 1 xpression mrk ll turntable . And it runs like a dream. It come fitted with a ortofon omb cartridge with the 10 stylus. Could be what was fitted from new so over 10years.
So my Question is
I have a audio technica at3600l cartridge and stylus I can fit to it. But not sure if it's a good idea. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Or could this be a step backwards. Should I just update stylus on ortofon omb cartridge? Help
Thanks Mark

 

[trinhsman]

The Ortofon 2M Blue is the sweet spot on your turntable. IMHO

 

[Mrky]

Thanks.but don't have £180 to throw at it.

 

[Balifly]

Hi I've have a pro-ject 1 xpression mrk ll turntable . And it runs like a dream. It come fitted with a ortofon omb cartridge with the 10 stylus. Could be what was fitted from new so over 10years.
So my Question is
I have a audio technica at3600l cartridge and stylus I can fit to it. But not sure if it's a good idea. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Or could this be a step backwards. Should I just update stylus on ortofon omb cartridge? Help
Thanks Mark

Welcome to the AK turn table forum.

The Ortofon OMB 10 is an excellent cartridge and can be upgrade with with various type of stylus, OM 20, OM 30, and OM 40 and even with an aftermarket third party VividLine stylus.

The budget would determine which Ortofon or after market stylus would be affordable.

There are lots of Audio Technica AT 3600 fancier who will be chiming in shortly.

 

[Mrky]

Would the audio technica at3600l work. I could always resort back to ortofon. If it doesn't sound as good right? Think I like the sound of the shure M97x some time in the future

 

[Balifly]

Would the audio technica at3600l work. I could always resort back to ortofon. If it doesn't sound as good right? Think I like the sound of the shure M97x some time in the future

Yes, the Audio Technica AT 3600 would work.

 

[cafe latte]

If you already have one spend the 25 minutes it takes to fit it and try it.
You won't be disappointed.
Chris

 

[Crab33]

I believe your turntable has a low-mass arm, so a high-compliance cartridge like the OM10 would be the most suited. If I were you, I would upgrade the stylus to a Stylus 20 (a nude elliptical) to take it up to an OM20. This is equivalent to the current 2M Blue but with IMO a slightly better (warmer) sound balance but perhaps a little less detail.

As has been pointed out, you could use the AT3600L on your turntable. However, it is in theory a downgrade and is also of lowish compliance, so not a good theoretical match to your arm. Having said that, this cartridge has a lot of charm for the price and does seem to work well on a wide range of arms.

 

[cafe latte]

I believe your turntable has a low-mass arm, so a high-compliance cartridge like the OM10 would be the most suited. If I were you, I would upgrade the stylus to a Stylus 20 (a nude elliptical) to take it up to an OM20. This is equivalent to the current 2M Blue but with IMO a slightly better (warmer) sound balance but perhaps a little less detail.

As has been pointed out, you could use the AT3600L on your turntable. However, it is in theory a downgrade and is also of lowish compliance, so not a good theoretical match to your arm. Having said that, this cartridge has a lot of charm for the price and does seem to work well on a wide range of arms.

Yes I agree not an ideal compliance match but weight can be added. I agree to the op owns the AT 3600l why not fit it, best way to know, we are all different, I love the AT 3600l despite faults but only listening will give the op the information he needs.
Chris

 

[olddude55]

I'd go with the AT. There are several upgrade styli available from LP Gear, from an elliptical diamond on a carbon fiber cantilever up to the ViVid Line hyper elliptical.

 

[rider33]

The OM-10 is a nice little cartridge that can be improved upon by upgrading the stylus. That, however, costs money and as you have the AT, why not mount it and see what you think? Me, I have a Music Hall 2.2 (similar to yours) and while raising the arm to adjust for a new acrylic plater I fitted it with a Grado F1+ that I had on hand, 'quite a change (rich, warm sound; it too came with an OM-10 which likely was more actuate but more analytical). Two things to any system you can do to significantly change the sound: change the speakers & change the cartridge (the transducers). It's not about right, it's about what's right for you. The more you experiment, the closer you get to finding it.

 

[Bob_in_OKC]

We all have different tastes, but the AT-3600L is a downgrade from the OMB 10. If for some reason a conical stylus is desired, an Ortofon conical stylus could be installed on the OMB cartridge body. The 10 stylus could be replaced with another 10 or with upgrades like the 20 without realigning and without concern for the change in compliance. Unless a person has a fair amount of experience setting up cartridges, leaving the Ortofon in place is a better plan.

 

[Punk_oldie]

We all have different tastes, but the AT-3600L is a downgrade from the OMB 10. If for some reason a conical stylus is desired, an Ortofon conical stylus could be installed on the OMB cartridge body. The 10 stylus could be replaced with another 10 or with upgrades like the 20 without realigning and without concern for the change in compliance. Unless a person has a fair amount of experience setting up cartridges, leaving the Ortofon in place is a better plan.

I second that, to go through all the effort of fitting and aligning, it's not worth it to go from an OMB 10 to and AT3600, especially if you're not hugely experienced in cartridge replacement. But, if I understand your original post correctly, you've been using that OMB10 for 10 years? In which case, if you've been playing records regularly, then the stylus almost certainly does need replacing, a worn stylus can damage records.

 

[cafe latte]

We all have different tastes, but the AT-3600L is a downgrade from the OMB 10. If for some reason a conical stylus is desired, an Ortofon conical stylus could be installed on the OMB cartridge body. The 10 stylus could be replaced with another 10 or with upgrades like the 20 without realigning and without concern for the change in compliance. Unless a person has a fair amount of experience setting up cartridges, leaving the Ortofon in place is a better plan.

I beg to differ. I have around 50 carts at last count with quite a few over the 2k mark and some around the 500 dollar mark MM, MI and MC . Among them I have a couple of AT3600l's. My gear is good, I have 7 turntables including an sp10mk2 with an Eminent Technology air arm and a sl1200G with is my most recent turntable, various amps and ATC scm 100 speakers. Admittedly set up will make most carts sound good, but it can show what they are capable of too. I recently put my AT3600l on my Technics sl1200G as I was curious as turntable is new, I removed my Decca super Gold and went to the AT3600l. Of course the Decca was better, but the AT was good enough to make you smile and sit back and keep listening. If all else is right the AT3600l is a great little cart and for the money you just cant go wrong. Is it better than an OMB 10? Hell yes. And others have said the stylus on it will be well and truely worn out after 10 years so why would you not fit the AT3600l which OP already has?
Chris

 

[Bob_in_OKC]

I beg to differ. I have around 50 carts at last count with quite a few over the 2k mark and some around the 500 dollar mark MM, MI and MC . Among them I have a couple of AT3600l's. My gear is good, I have 7 turntables including an sp10mk2 with an Eminent Technology air arm and a sl1200G with is my most recent turntable, various amps and ATC scm 100 speakers. Admittedly set up will make most carts sound good, but it can show what they are capable of too. I recently put my AT3600l on my Technics sl1200G as I was curious as turntable is new, I removed my Decca super Gold and went to the AT3600l. Of course the Decca was better, but the AT was good enough to make you smile and sit back and keep listening. If all else is right the AT3600l is a great little cart and for the money you just cant go wrong. Is it better than an OMB 10? Hell yes. And others have said the stylus on it will be well and truely worn out after 10 years so why would you not fit the AT3600l which OP already has?
Chris

I read your earlier post and I disagree. I’m not as impressed with the AT-3600, although I respect your preference otherwise. Accurate setup makes a huge difference and I’d venture to say it’s probably responsible for as much of the differences in what people hear as the cartridges themselves. If a person has the experience and confidence to accurately set up a cartridge they would probably make the swap before posting the question online. I’d put a new stylus on what I consider to be the better cartridge. I realize you said something different.

 

[OMGCat!]

Since you've already got it, fit up the AT and see what you think. You can always buy a new stylus for the Ortofon if you don't like it much. Either way, you're likely long past overdue for a new stylus.

 

[cafe latte]

I read your earlier post and I disagree. I’m not as impressed with the AT-3600, although I respect your preference otherwise. Accurate setup makes a huge difference and I’d venture to say it’s probably responsible for as much of the differences in what people hear as the cartridges themselves. If a person has the experience and confidence to accurately set up a cartridge they would probably make the swap before posting the question online. I’d put a new stylus on what I consider to be the better cartridge. I realize you said something different.

Point with the AT 3600l it is held back by the rest of the system all too often. I have my dad a at3600l and it sounded rather ordinary. On my system it sounds stunning. When people give cart opinions I think this happens a lot. I can remove 2k cart and fit the at3600l and still enjoy it. The om10 does not have the sweet mids, balance and wide soundstage of the AT.
Chris