• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Seeking the Best Cartridge Under $300

C

cjsvinyl

New Member
Hey everyone, I'm trying to educate myself in the next great cart for my system. My current turntable & cartridge is the Technics SL-1200 and Nagaoka MP-110. I'm really pleased with my Nag cart, but I'm honestly wanting an upgrade. As most of you probably know, the Nag MP-110 is a very well balanced cart, but I'm looking for exactly that on a much higher level. Something brighter, but also deeper bass.

Several of the front runners that I've considered are the Ortofon 2M Blue, the AT440MLB, the Shure M97xE, the Grado Green, and the Goldring E1. Obviously a couple of those are heading out the door permanently so their styli are not going to be so easy to come by in the future. Not only that, but when it comes to the Ortofon 2M Blue, I've witnessed more than a few people express their hatred for that cart, and others that simply said it's not worth the $200. I've been told that the Nag MP-110 is perfectly fine, and I agree with this, but I want to advance my experience. I'm willing to spend upwards of 300, and a little over if it's the right cart. However, I believe it's possible to keep it under 300 for a better cart. I'm just not sure which one it is. Any thoughts? What are your recommended cartridges for a direct drive system like the SL-1200? Thank you in advance!
 
Register to hide this ad
cjsvinyl said:
Hey everyone, I'm trying to educate myself in the next great cart for my system. My current turntable & cartridge is the Technics SL-1200 and Nagaoka MP-110. I'm really pleased with my Nag cart, but I'm honestly wanting an upgrade. As most of you probably know, the Nag MP-110 is a very well balanced cart, but I'm looking for exactly that on a much higher level. Something brighter, but also deeper bass.

Several of the front runners that I've considered are the Ortofon 2M Blue, the AT440MLB, the Shure M97xE, the Grado Green, and the Goldring E1. Obviously a couple of those are heading out the door permanently so their styli are not going to be so easy to come by in the future. Not only that, but when it comes to the Ortofon 2M Blue, I've witnessed more than a few people express their hatred for that cart, and others that simply said it's not worth the $200. I've been told that the Nag MP-110 is perfectly fine, and I agree with this, but I want to advance my experience. I'm willing to spend upwards of 300, and a little over if it's the right cart. However, I believe it's possible to keep it under 300 for a better cart. I'm just not sure which one it is. Any thoughts? What are your recommended cartridges for a direct drive system like the SL-1200? Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...

This is all subjective, and just my ears listening, I got a Shure M97xE, was excited about it, but very disappointed in almost all aspects... What I didn't like was how high points like cymbals etc were read so lightly to be non existent almost, while bass seemed to be read too much... I've revisited this cart on my turntable a few times in case I was mistaken, but no... it isn't my cup of tea.

I have no experience with the AT440MLB, might be good? Sounds okay on YouTube!?

Ortofon Blue sounds nice and bright, but a little flat.

If you're in the US I think the Denon DL-110 a high output moving coil cart, is about $300 or under.. Easy to install, and sounds magical to me... Nice cymbals, great detailed midrange and bass... It should play fine through your normal phono stage...

I have questionable music taste, but here's an example on a well played old record in average condition... Despite a pop or crackle, it still sounds better than my CD copy of this track...

PS this cart needs to be "played in" for about 10 albums till the true sound reveals itself... Not sure why this is a thing, but initially I didn't think too much of this cart till I played it for a while... Then magic!


Hope that helped? Cheers
 
Last edited:
Have you considered the Nagaoka MP-150? I've not compared it to the MP-110, so don't know to what extent it differs. But I ran both an MP-150 and an 2M Blue on an SL-1210, and I preferred the MP-150 - it was my favorite cart before I shifted to MC.
 
I briefly tried the MP-110 but couldn't arrive at a very satisfying sound with it. I found it sensitive to load capacitance, which is dependent on the capacitance of your phono-stage. At low capacitance (50pF phono-stage), it had a heavy balance with a poorly defined treble, while at higher capacitance (220pF phono-stage) it had a much lighter balance with a lovely treble but was then a bit bass-light.

I have the 2M Blue in the form of the Concorde 40 Anniversary and find it lively, open and detailed - very entertaining. It is on the bright side of neutral but the bass is very punchy. I would recommend the Ortofon OM20 as an alternative - it has a slightly warmer balance with a more forward bass but nice, crisp highs (the Super OM20 edition is a lot brighter though and too bright for me).

The AT-440MLb may be a good alternative. It has the wonderful MicroLine stylus which is an excellent tracker that makes light work of sibilance. Some people complain that the AT-440MLa/b is bright but, again, this may be a matter of load capacitance - AT recommend very low capacitance loads for their cartridges (100-200pF). The AT-VM540ML is the current equivalent of this cartridge. You may also want to consider the new AT-VM95ML, which also has the MicroLine stylus and is cheaper, but I don't think this is a bright cartridge.

The Denon DL-110 is another good candidate. It has a slightly warm balance but a crisp treble. The overall effect is quite mellow.

I would rule out the Shure and possibly the Grado if you want something brighter than the Nagaoka. And the Goldring E1 is a basic cartridge, so not in the same league as the 2M Blue and AT-440MLb.
 
Agreed with @Lyrebird that the MP-150 might not only be a nice change but would allow you to add the 200-stylus when the time comes. If you like the Nag sound that would be a logical way to go. I think Nagaoka carts are a very bad bargain in pricing terms, but they are well loved. If you could find an MP-200 anywhere within your budget it would probably be a no-brainer for you, but when I look they want $400 for that cart.

As far as exploration of other house sounds, I'm a fan of Grado and Shure. The V15 series from Shure is considered by many to be one of the best MM cartridge series ever produced. Grado can be polarizing to discuss but I find a warmth and balance in them that is hard to stay away from. I've had my best luck with their Silver-level and above cartridges, but the Prestige2 series has been very well received too, all the way down to the affordable Black2.

I've had several 2M carts that I never warmed up to. Too stark, etched, edgy. However I like the sound of OM bodies, a little rounder, warmer to my ears. AT is an entire universe to itself, with everything from super cheap but well-loved AT3600 and AT95E carts, all the way into rarified high-end MCs. If I had to pick a cartridge maker that offers overall best value, it would be AT. Take it as you will, but I've had many AT carts up to the 440MLA and 540ML level, and they tend to be carts that make me go 'wow' but don't stay on the turntable.

The cartridges I come back to over and over are Shure and Grado. Cartridge makers really do produce a house sound, and once you listen to enough carts to find yourself preferring a particular sound, it helps narrow the field.
 
The Denon DL-110 can still be found for under $2 Benjamins with a little effort. Lots of fans of that cart.

Your desire for the "best" is only going to be realized by you. I have read about plenty of avid vinyl listeners who are fully satisfied with many carts under $100. I don't think there is a single focus for the best. Maybe a best from a particulars house sound, but Grado vs Audio Technica vs Ortofon vs etc. vs etc. as a direct comparison will be extremely subjective.

The Audio Technica K body carts have a lot of versatility as their styli have been available in a lot of configurations for a lot of years. There are vintage bodies available from the AT120(and up) series all the way to the current VM line. Cantilevers and styli of huge range.
 
Even over the internet this is quite engaging


For what its worth He uses the At 440 and he has some of the best quality on you tube. You can actually hear the difference of his various cartridges. I listen often to his videos like this and the 440 always sounds great.

His videos never disappoint. Lots of his recordings sound better than the cd played in my house. (no I am not going to try and figure out why :))

 
Last edited:
IMO there is not best, but in a range there is suitable.
For each type of music, gear, etc, there is a cart that fit better than others.
Sadly carts are not returnables in case we dont like.
For that money i will recommend a grado gold 2.
But soon the itch will start and you will want another one. (The neighbor grass is greener).
Invest is some stylus and upgrade some old cart. They will work as fine as a new one.
AG.
 
Holy cow! ALL of the responses, thank you so much everyone! To attempt at responding to all, I have considered simply upgrading to the MP-150, but have been told while the changes were noticeable, owners of that cart told me they couldn't justify the price increase compared to the quality of the MP-110. As far as the Denon DL-110, I have looked over that one. I had a hard time differentiating if it was a significant increase in quality over the MP-110. It didn't seem to be that much different (in my opinion), but as a few of you have mentioned it seems to be very subjective especially based on experience. I know my ears have always been extremely sensitive to sound. I can hear things further away, and my volume can only be turned up so loud based on heightened senses. This is why I'm continuing the search for something more superior.

Anything that is up in the 400 - 700 range, I have to ask why. Why THAT much? Are they that expensive strictly based on lifespan like 2000 hours before replacement or what? Then of course there are Dynavector's that get well into the 4-digit price tag and there will never be a justification in my mind for that. I definitely appreciate the YouTube videos, and with as much as I enjoy making YT vids, the reality is that they are a poor substitution for the real thing in person. I definitely agree that I need to spend more time experiencing it for myself. At the same time, my ears do pick up some small, settle differences in the sound, so again, I do appreciate you guys posting the video links for me. I watched them and they were still helpful!

I have further thinking to do on this, and definitely more to read as I can see that there have been posts made even during the time of my typed response, so I look forward to reading those as well. Thanks again for all of your thoughts, it's very appreciated!
 
cjsvinyl said:
Something brighter, but also deeper bass.

As far as the Denon DL-110, I have looked over that one.

I had a hard time differentiating if it was a significant increase in quality over the MP-110.

It didn't seem to be that much different (in my opinion), but as a few of you have mentioned it seems to be very subjective especially based on experience. I know my ears have always been extremely sensitive to sound. I can hear things further away, and my volume can only be turned up so loud based on heightened senses. This is why I'm continuing the search for something more superior.
Click to expand...

Something brighter, but also deeper bass.

Not an easy to achieve combination.

As far as the Denon DL-110, I have looked over that one.

Does that mean you have heard it in action?

In any case, have a listen to the Vessell - under $100.00 USD. :music:
https://www.lpgear.com/product/THEVESSELA3SE.html
 
Bottom line there is no real right and wrong answer. You will have to take the plunge to find out. I wouldn't sweat it. We all get lucky and we all make mistakes :p

What you have in this thread, taken objectively, is that there is plenty out there.
 
Balifly, I did have an in-person experience with the Denon DL-110 at one of my local Guitar Centers. Definitely agreed about my pursuits not being easy to achieve. I've set the bar that much higher, and I'm not sure if I'll even be able to hear a significant difference at this point. My Sansui equipment is really helping the listening experience too. Tiver, I don't think it could have been put any better, you're absolutely correct. It really is down to personal preference, and there is no right or wrong answer. I really appreciate the responses from EVERY member of AK!
 
cjsvinyl said:
Balifly, I did have an in-person experience with the Denon DL-110 at one of my local Guitar Centers. Definitely agreed about my pursuits not being easy to achieve. I've set the bar that much higher, and I'm not sure if I'll even be able to hear a significant difference at this point. My Sansui equipment is really helping the listening experience too. Tiver, I don't think it could have been put any better, you're absolutely correct. It really is down to personal preference, and there is no right or wrong answer. I really appreciate the responses from EVERY member of AK!
Click to expand...

If you need more and deeper bass, get speaker help - sub woofers.

You will then be free to peruse the mid and high range by getting better and finer cartridge/stylus of your choice. :)
 
An inexpensive phono amp that will handle LOMC or a SUT, and an AT-OC9/II that you can get on eBay for 300 dollars, as I just picked up a new one to replace the one I owned. On the AT site they list it selling for 450, so your getting a pretty good cart for a nice discount. Fine Line diamond on a solid boron gold plated cantilever, just make sure your vinyl is in great shape, as it picks up just about every nuance.

It is a MC cart and some people claim they lack some bass over MM's. I don't find that to be the case. I do find, in general that vinyl seems to be a bit less bass capable, than digital, but the benefits in the upper frequencies is well worth it IMO.
 
It is definitely very subjective, the moving coils take time to come alive too, which can cause initial disappointment. All the cartridge suggestions are very worthwhile carts, it does just boil down to personal listening preferences in the end, much like art, movies or music... It's what you like that matters... As for cost I hear what you're saying, it is a big investment to make.

I had an" DN249e " super cheap elliptical stylus on my cheap Dual turntable, it fit into to Ortofon M5 cart that came with the unit... Both late eighties gear... It sounded not bad to my ears - well above the expensive Shure M 97xE... But that's to my ears of course, others may disagree!

Cost of stylus (not cart though) was about $50...

It passes for most folks and was dirt cheap... Just depends. found a recording from it, it may even be the the conical tipped predecessor. PS cart and stylus came with the unit ... I'd say looking at shape of cart it was a forerunner of OM series

 
Last edited:
cjsvinyl said:
Hey everyone, I'm trying to educate myself in the next great cart for my system. My current turntable & cartridge is the Technics SL-1200 and Nagaoka MP-110. I'm really pleased with my Nag cart, but I'm honestly wanting an upgrade. As most of you probably know, the Nag MP-110 is a very well balanced cart, but I'm looking for exactly that on a much higher level. Something brighter, but also deeper bass.

Several of the front runners that I've considered are the Ortofon 2M Blue, the AT440MLB, the Shure M97xE, the Grado Green, and the Goldring E1. Obviously a couple of those are heading out the door permanently so their styli are not going to be so easy to come by in the future. Not only that, but when it comes to the Ortofon 2M Blue, I've witnessed more than a few people express their hatred for that cart, and others that simply said it's not worth the $200. I've been told that the Nag MP-110 is perfectly fine, and I agree with this, but I want to advance my experience. I'm willing to spend upwards of 300, and a little over if it's the right cart. However, I believe it's possible to keep it under 300 for a better cart. I'm just not sure which one it is. Any thoughts? What are your recommended cartridges for a direct drive system like the SL-1200? Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...

If you generally like the Nag 110 sound but want better then look for a MP 200 stylus on eBay, the cost is much less if you buy direct from Japan.

The MP-200 stylus uses a boron cantilever and the overall sound will be more airy, the soundstage is bigger. It’s better across the full frequency range.

To my ears the MP-200 is much more refined than the Blue, the M97xE, and the Grado Green.
 
My personal experience in this price range: Liked the Denon DL-110 for years, but got tired of the non-replaceable stylus. Replaced it with an AT VM-540ml. Tracks better than the Denon, especially on the difficult inner grooves of classical LPs. It can be challenging to get your capacitance under control, but once you do, it's a great cartridge. Lots of low-end extension and top end sparkle when it's loaded right. Load it wrong and it sounds a bit harsh.
 
Zvezda said:
My personal experience in this price range: Liked the Denon DL-110 for years, but got tired of the non-replaceable stylus. Replaced it with an AT VM-540ml. Tracks better than the Denon, especially on the difficult inner grooves of classical LPs. It can be challenging to get your capacitance under control, but once you do, it's a great cartridge. Lots of low-end extension and top end sparkle when it's loaded right. Load it wrong and it sounds a bit harsh.
Click to expand...

I would like to hear a cartridge from this family of AT someday. My experience is that any stylus that is beyond a basic elliptical, such as the ML, would greatly benefit from a tonearm with VTA adjust. If the arm does not have that then shimming or playing with mat thickness is required.
 
cjs,
I use two SL1200MkIIs and have a Denon DL-110 and Ortfon 2M Blue along with a number of other carts. My first suggestion, if you don’t already have fluid damping on your tonearm, invest in that. Especially if you plan on playing with Grado carts. I prefer the Denon over the 2M Blue. I find it easier to set up well. But with fluid damping I prefer my Grado Reference Platinum most of the time.
Bob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom