Please Recommend Me a Cartridge
Would like some recommendations on a MC cartridge to replace my long in the tooth Lyra Helikon Stereo. The Helikon still sounds fantastic to me but it's over 10 years old and I feel it's time for an upgrade.
So far my list is short. What's intrigued me so far are the Ortofon Cadenza Black and Bronze cartridges. I have not listened to either of them but read some nice things about them. I would like to keep my budget in the $2,000-$2,500 range. I know the Cadenza Black is a bit higher. (You know how budgets go):D My analog front end is the VPI HR-X turntable and VPI 12.7 tonearm. Thanks in advance!! :thumbsup: |
Paul... I happen to own the Ortofon Cadenza Black and the Grado Statement V2. The Grado is truly remarkable, read the reviews they are all true. I have sold no less than five of them to AA’rs this month alone.
Although this is a bit over budget, I will wave my magic discount wand if you are interested. :ok: |
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I have the Cadenza Black on a VPI Prime Signature. It sounds incredible - the best I've heard but I would jump on that Grado offer if I was still looking and it came down into your budget!
It would look pretty dang cool on your VPI |
On the Cadenza models, note that they're different enough (e.g. compliance, cantilever, stylus) that one might be an optimal match for a given tonearm while the other isn't. The Bronze, Blue, and Red models have a lower than average compliance of 12, which lends them more to medium-high mass arms. The Black is a more typical 16. I.e. the Black might not necessarily beat the Bronze on a heavier arm.
I once had Ortofon's predecessors of the Bronze & Black for comparison: Kontrapunkt c = Bronze and Jubilee = Black; on a Fidelity Research FR64fx arm (heavy, with effective mass 20g), the Kontra was better than the Jubilee. The Windfeld MC (same 16 compliance as Black/Jubilee) had some struggles on this arm too. I now have a Cadenza Bronze, and like the Kontra, it's a stunning match on the FR arm. One change from Kontra c to Bronze is the use of the Replicant (micro-ridge) stylus on the latter. That actually makes it a bit more fussy in setup accuracy than either the Kontra, Jubilee, or Black. Something else to keep in mind. I also thought I read somewhere that VPI really likes the Bronze, but I'd imagine both models would do quite well on a VPI 12" arm. |
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Thanks Mike...the bronze is also more budget friendly for me. :D |
Do you plan on using the McIntosh phono? If so check the MC overload specs. The newer preamps top out at 5mV. That means they don't like medium output MC carts, I think...
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Koetsu Black Goldline. I have loved mine for years, and I have over 30 in my collection.
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