Your choice of cartridge for use on Rega RB330 tonearm?

[DavidTT]

Three cartridges: Ortofon 2m bronze, Denon DL-110, Denon-301, Denon DL-160.

The DL-110 would be a new cartridge, the DL-301 and DL-160 would be retipped examples (elliptical).

I have a MM/MC capable phono preamp. The bronze is MM, the DL-110 and DL-160 (older brother) are HOMC, the DL-301 is LOMC.

Thoughts about how you'd rate these cartridges, relatively speaking, and which you'd prefer?

 

[Mister Pig]

Denon SL 301 MK II. A quality moving coil, the question being is the diamond at the same quality level as the OEM one, as that one is a quality stylus with a small footprint.

 

[Ilikevinyl]

Ortofon 2M series was designed for the Rega tonearms. The shape of the cartridge matches the shape of Rega arm. Ortofon uses the Rega arm for their 2M catalog.

 

[justjed2]

Technically, that's four carts. No biggy. Most will recommend one of the Denons. And for good reason. But, I seem to recall the 2M carts were designed to work perfectly with the angles of the Rega headshell, simplifying alignment. Regardless, it's a very good match for that arm. It does require a fairly long break-in, but is well worth the time. And I prefer a replaceable stylus.

Edit: @Ilikevinyl beat me by about a minute!

 

[Ilikevinyl]

Using a Denon DL-301 MKII. It's an low output MC cartridge so your phono preamp must have adjustable settings. Sounds the best with 400-500 ohm loading. Using 475 ohms with 58.4 gain. Excellent cartridge for the money!

The DL-110 & DL-160 are high output MC cartridges and use a MM phono input.

 

[joecoulson]

David, gotta push you towards a little more coin for the Rega Ania. You would be super happy my friend.

 

[Crab33]

For an 11g arm, the Denon DL-110 might be a little low in compliance to work at its best. I don't know about the other Denons. The 2M Bronze will be suitable compliance-wise and, as someone has pointed out, the arm seems to have been originally designed with the 2M cartridges in mind. In practice, there is the VTA question though. It depends on your manual dexterity and confidence, but I would struggle with a cartridge with non-replaceable stylus on an arm with fixed headshell.

 

[DavidTT]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to give a try to both a Denon 301 retipped (by our old friend Joseph) and a 2M Bronze. I'll post about them once installed.

 

[doctor fuse]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to give a try to both a Denon 301 retipped (by our old friend Joseph) and a 2M Bronze. I'll post about them once installed.

Just FYI, I have a NOS DL-300 (on a Lenco L75/S), and a retipped DL-300 with boron cantilever and nude Shibata III stylus (on a Mission 775S with Rega RB300 arm).

Granted, the two carts are on different tables and arms, but nevertheless, I imagine the following sound profiles are intrinsic to the cartridge:

the stock DL-300 is very exciting, very dynamic, and very forward

the retipped DL-300 is more refined, more elegant, and a tad more reserved. Also, it seems to transmit less surface noice.

Note: the 300 has a bonded stylus, the 301II a nudie.

In case this helps anyone decide on a stock 301II or a retipped one with similar cantilever/stylus (a fairly common retipping combo it seems).