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Your Top 5 older cartridges

Freddymac2 said:
Try to select the one cart that you prefer to use across all types of your favorite music!
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Well that would be the Audio Technica AT-440 MLa but that's not really a vintage classic like the OP was asking about (yet). That's the one that probably gets the most use though, really seems to get everything right. In my case I have multiple turntables on multiple systems so multiple carts in use at any given time, and each one of those carts play all of my music the best in their respective setups.
 
My top 6 (had to make room for the Grace):

Signet TK-100LC
Signet TK-10ML
Signet TK-9LCa
Signet TK-7LCa
Audio Technica AT-24
Grace F9 Ruby

Jack
 
Shure Ultra 500 MM
Shure V15 Mark V MM
Monster Cable Alpha Genesis 2000 MC
Sumiko Talisman Virtuoso VTI MM
I still use the Sumiko,have purchased two nib cartridges.
 
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Ortofon Vms 30e
Stanton 681eee/pickering x v15
Stanton 881s mkii
Pickering xlz 7500s mkii
Ortofon super om40
 
audiojones said:
Well that would be the Audio Technica AT-440 MLa but that's not really a vintage classic like the OP was asking about (yet). That's the one that probably gets the most use though, really seems to get everything right. In my case I have multiple turntables on multiple systems so multiple carts in use at any given time, and each one of those carts play all of my music the best in their respective setups.
Click to expand...
Which stylus are using on that AT? What types of music?
 
MRL_Audio said:
Been looking for that one forever. Love to find one so I can hear it on my SL-M3.
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I've seen a second-generation DV-10P2 in catalogs, but never in person. Those Dynavector p-mounts are not very common at all, but I sure like the one I have.
 
Designdweeb said:
Which stylus are using on that AT? What types of music?
Click to expand...

It's the stock stylus that came with it. I bought two of the AT-440MLa carts when you could get them for under $100 each on Amazon. To my ears it sounds very similar to to one of my other favorite AT carts, the AT-125LC (still have an unused NOS one of those too).

Music is mostly jazz these days but still a good amount of progressive rock and well recorded classics such as Cat Stevens, Carole King, Van Morrison, Renaissance etc. I have tons of albums from the very first ones I ever saved up for and bought over 40 years ago to some that I bought just last week, so I like having a variety of carts and tables around for different types of listening and recording. If I'm recording an album onto reel to reel tape it's almost always the AT-440MLa or the Grado Gold.
 
Shure V15 Type IV MR
Shure V15 LT (p mount)
Audio Technica AT155 LC/U (p mount)
Pickering XV15
Empire 2000E III

These are my old classics. I mainly use MC nowadays.
 
I am very fond of the Spectral MCR Signature which is getting to be about 25 years old now so I hope it qualifies. I believe it was the grandfather of the modern Lyra carts. It is one spectacular LOMC that was absolutely state of the art when it came out.

jblnut
 
Shure Hi Track M91E (on a Dual 1219)
SAE1000E (Soundsmith rebuild to ruby cant with line contact stylus currently sitting idle in box)
Yamaha MC-705 (Which I believe is actually an AT3100E on Yamaha PX-3)
Benz Micro MC20E2 (Currently w/o cant....thinking of having Soundsmith rebuild)
Micro Acoustics 630 (Currently on Thorens TD160)

Question: what do some of you think about the Benz Micro MC20E2? Would it be worth the $250 rebuild by Soundsmith? I have had it in a box for about 2 years now since the cleaning lady "dusted" underneath it, goodbye cantilever.....Only had it in operation for a few months before this happened....
 
audiojones said:
Well that would be the Audio Technica AT-440 MLa but that's not really a vintage classic like the OP was asking about (yet). That's the one that probably gets the most use though, really seems to get everything right. In my case I have multiple turntables on multiple systems so multiple carts in use at any given time, and each one of those carts play all of my music the best in their respective setups.
Click to expand...

I would rate the AT-440 a Classic. Give it another 20 years, and then add the "Vintage". Actually the mla (replaced by the mlb) is a vintage... ;-)
 
Shure V15-vxmr
AT 15sa
Shure V15-lll
Stanton 681eee
Shure M91e

All are still in use at least a few days every couple of months, ive had the 681eee since the mid 70s and was my first system cartridge so its my sentimental favorite

Stanton 681eee ( i dont use the brush )
20160313_205738 (450x800).jpg
 
Weathers FM Pickup System (mono, with Weathers arm and oscillator unit)
ADC XLM (original.version, but needs a very low-mass arm))
Shure V15-III (combination of high trackability and flat FR, needs a low-mass arm)
Shure V15-VMR
Shure Ultra 500
 
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