• 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

TN-300 User Experience-What cartridge are you using?

R

Rocco415

New Member
I wanted to start a thread that focuses in on members TN300 setups.

Which Cartridges have you tried? Which do you like? Which Carts pair well and which don't?

Personally Ive only use the stock cart currently but Im going to start building up a collection, The 95 is fine, but in my book not as detailed in the highs as I would like. Its maybe a little less dynamic than I'd like but it has great separation.
 
Register to hide this ad
Not a TN300 user, but that looks like a very nice table :)

I suspect that arm will easily support up to AT 440/Mla or even the 150/MLX ... These are both line contact and very revealing. Maybe too revealing for some used vinyl ...
 
Yup, that could be step one :)

Just for background, there are four major areas of attention in the TT world. 1.) the TT (rotational stability, decent arm dynamics, etc.), 2.) the cartridge (MM, MI, or MC), 3.) the stylus and the ability of the arm to properly track each type. It gets a bit complicated, but MM and MI usually have high compliance suspensions and track lightly, some MC's have stiffer suspensions and need a bit more force to work against. Some arms will not play nicely with some cartridges. and 4.) the Phono Stage you are piping the signal into.

Cartridges are "loaded" by the phono stage. When that is not a good match, the best stylus in the world will not do anything. This is very much a business of synergy. Old hands have been down this road a few times and can tell camp fire tales of mis-matches. And most can recite tales of 99% success. Often these are of humble cartridges and decent styli matched to a good phono stage and magic happens.

A classic example is trying to get a Shure V-15 to work well. When it's right, it's pretty impressive. But to get there you need loading parameters that are not built into many phono stages.

You are prolly a long way from attempting that... But even AT's need some care and attention. Especially as you move up the food chain.

A agree on the extra headshells. Use SOAR wires and aluminum screws to keep the mass down. Keep your existing shell with factory settings as a baseline and a touch stone in case something does not go well with the "new" stuff. You'll become knowledgeable soon enough. have fun :)
 
Last edited:
I'd also of course to hear other
BrocLuno said:
Yup, that could be step one :)

Just for background, there are four major areas of attention in the TT world. 1.) the TT (rotational stability, decent arm dynamics, etc.), 2.) the cartridge (MM, MI, or MC), 3.) the stylus and the ability of the arm to properly track each type. It gets a bit complicated, but MM and MI usually have high compliance suspensions and track lightly, some MC's have stiffer suspensions and need a bit more force to work against. Some arms will not play nicely with some cartridges. and 4.) the Phono Stage you are piping the signal into.

Cartridges are "loaded" by the phono stage. When that is not a good match, the best stylus in the world will not do anything. This is very much a business of synergy. Old hands have been down this road a few times and can tell camp fire tales of mis-matches. And most can recite tales of 99% success. Often these are of humble cartridges and decent styli matched to a good phono stage and magic happens.

A classic example is trying to get a Shure V-15 to work well. When it's right, it's pretty impressive. But to get there you need loading parameters that are not built into many phono stages.

You are prolly a long way from attempting that... But even AT's need some care and attention. Especially as you move up the food chain.

A agree on the extra headshells. Use SOAR wires and aluminum screws to keep the mass down. Keep your existing shell with factory settings as a baseline and a touch stone in case something does not go well with the "new" stuff. You'll become knowledgeable soon enough. have fun :)
Click to expand...

You are 100 percent correct, it will be awhile before I get to the point of using highly customized load parameters. I would like to start collecting cartridges. One of the really interesting things that I have discovered about vinyl is how you can truly tailor it to your tastes. In my opinion there is no wrong in terms of setups. Up until I got a record player I didnt realize how many point you can change out until you get the sound you want. I also didnt realize how time consuming it could be :). All good fun thus far.
 
Hi. Months later LoL. Wondering if you ever upgraded your cartridge and to what? I have the stock on my TN 300 and want to upgrade. Thanks
 
I upgraded my Teac TN300 with an Ortofon Blue and changed to an AT headshell (slightly heavier build than the Teac stock headshell and painted red) I originally tried the Ortofon Red which also works well, but I now have that religated to a "spare".
I had to use scale and protector to get cartridge balanced correctly as the Ortofon is a bit heavier than the "designed" cartridge weight, but the increased output and quality of the Ortofon was well worth the time and effort.
My Teac TN300 is the beautiful Cherry finish. I am using a Cambridge Solo Preamp along with the Blue upgrade. The sound is phenomenal thru Klipsch Piano Black Reference Premier 280F towers and an Onkyo TX NR838 THX receiver using an M-500R metered Onkyo front channel power amp. I went all digital with Home Theater in the late 90's and just did not have the time or patience to deal with vinyl and turntable science.
I am very, very happy with this turntable. It is the first turntable I have purchased since I got rid of my B&O linear and Phillips Electronic 312 about 25-30 years ago. I had boxes and boxes of vinyl that I have been hauling around and decided it was time to stop carrying them, opening the boxes up and let the music out! I can actually do a good side by side comparison of CD and Vinyl and I cannot understand why I let the analog go, the only format that rivals the vinyl are some of the DVD and Blue ray audio, especially the live concerts that were mastered for digital surround (I cannot believe some of Frank Zappa's surround and digital engineering before there was surround!!)
I originally ran the vinyl thru the B&O/Philips with Denon cart combo thru an Apt preamp with dual phono stages and 2 D300 Crown bridged amps with 2 ESS AMT1B and 2 ESS AMT10B for a pure stereo system (the AMT1's in the downstairs LR and the AMT10B' in an upstairs loft overlooking the downstairs (a real early '80's bachelor pad)
I have really enjoyed rediscovering my collection, opening one crate at a time, washing and drying each disc replacing jackets and listening to each disc while tranfering the music to flac files for car use.
I also picked up a pair of wood can ESS HEIL 422H headphones (the limited edition "half price" introduction)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom