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Cartridge Recommendation

fl4tdrivenfl4tdriven Moscow, PA Posts: 332
in Musicians and Gearheads
So I've been in the market for a new turntable for little while now, as I've been stuck using my Gemini TT-04 table that I got in high school when scratching intrigued me (I was a confused teenager). My dad was gracious enough to give me his Technics SL-Q2 table, which seems like a pretty great table for its class, especially for free.

I now need a good, but budget friendly cartridge. I currently use a Shure M44-7, which I like but I'm sure there's a better hifi option out there. I'd like to keep the budget around $100. Thoughts?
Philly 10/21/13 - MSG 5/1/16 - Fenway 8/5/16 - TOTD 11/4/16

Comments

  • Croos1226Croos1226 philly burbs Posts: 340
    I would look at the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. I have one on my Denon turntable and I think it sounds great. It should be right around $100 dollars also. I am by no means an audiophile and i'm sure there are comparable cartridges in that price range, but this one works great for me. Hope this helps a bit. I will be interested to see what other people suggest.
  • fl4tdrivenfl4tdriven Moscow, PA Posts: 332
    Croos1226 said:

    I would look at the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. I have one on my Denon turntable and I think it sounds great. It should be right around $100 dollars also. I am by no means an audiophile and i'm sure there are comparable cartridges in that price range, but this one works great for me. Hope this helps a bit. I will be interested to see what other people suggest.

    Thanks for the recommendation! The 2m red is one that I'm considering. I actually have a replacement stylus for a 2m red that a friend's gave me, so I would be set for a while if I had the 2m body.

    Another option I'm considering is the Shure m97-xe. They both seem comparable, with the Shure supposedly having a warmer sound.
    Philly 10/21/13 - MSG 5/1/16 - Fenway 8/5/16 - TOTD 11/4/16
  • lolobugglolobugg BLUE RDGE MTNS Posts: 8,195
    fl4tdriven said:

    Croos1226 said:

    I would look at the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. I have one on my Denon turntable and I think it sounds great. It should be right around $100 dollars also. I am by no means an audiophile and i'm sure there are comparable cartridges in that price range, but this one works great for me. Hope this helps a bit. I will be interested to see what other people suggest.

    Thanks for the recommendation! The 2m red is one that I'm considering. I actually have a replacement stylus for a 2m red that a friend's gave me, so I would be set for a while if I had the 2m body.

    Another option I'm considering is the Shure m97-xe. They both seem comparable, with the Shure supposedly having a warmer sound.
    I love my Shure cartridge. I am running a vintage M97- precursor to the XE.
    you can't go wrong with the Ortofon or the Shure.

    livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446

    1995- New Orleans, LA  : New Orleans, LA

    1996- Charleston, SC

    1998- Atlanta, GA: Birmingham, AL: Greenville, SC: Knoxville, TN

    2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN

    2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA

    2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)

    2006- Cincinnati, OH

    2008- Columbia, SC

    2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2

    2010- Bristow, VA

    2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL

    2012- Atlanta, GA

    2013- Charlotte, NC

    2014- Cincinnati, OH

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    2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA

    2017- ED VED- Louisville, KY

    2018- Chicago, IL x2, Boston, MA x2

    2020- Nashville, TN 

    2022- Smashville 

    2023- Austin, TX x2

    2024- Baltimore

  • fl4tdrivenfl4tdriven Moscow, PA Posts: 332
    lolobugg said:

    fl4tdriven said:

    Croos1226 said:

    I would look at the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. I have one on my Denon turntable and I think it sounds great. It should be right around $100 dollars also. I am by no means an audiophile and i'm sure there are comparable cartridges in that price range, but this one works great for me. Hope this helps a bit. I will be interested to see what other people suggest.

    Thanks for the recommendation! The 2m red is one that I'm considering. I actually have a replacement stylus for a 2m red that a friend's gave me, so I would be set for a while if I had the 2m body.

    Another option I'm considering is the Shure m97-xe. They both seem comparable, with the Shure supposedly having a warmer sound.
    I love my Shure cartridge. I am running a vintage M97- precursor to the XE.
    you can't go wrong with the Ortofon or the Shure.
    Good to know. I'm really bouncing between those two right now. If I end up with the Shure, I'll probably just sell the 2m stylus.
    Philly 10/21/13 - MSG 5/1/16 - Fenway 8/5/16 - TOTD 11/4/16
  • ski-bumski-bum Boston Posts: 1,017
    I'm going to bump this thread because I want to replace the cartridge on my old Technics SL-D2.
    Want to keep it under $200. What do you recommend?

    9/15/98 - Great Woods................9/29/04 - Fleet Center.....................8/02/08 - Opera House (EV)............10/16/13 - DCU Center
    8/29/00 - Tweeter Center............5/24/06 - Banknorth Garden............5/17/10 - Banknorth Garden.............08/05/16 - Fenway Park
    7/11/03 - Tweeter Center............5/25/06 - Banknorth Garden............6/16/11 - Wang Theatre (EV)............08/07/16 - Fenway Park
    9/28/04 - Fleet Center................6/30/08 - Tweeter Center
  • dudemandudeman Posts: 3,070
    If I were in the market, I'd probably get an Audio-Technica AT-440MLA. For bang for the buck, it's a good all-around performer.

    I'm not really an audiophile and there are definitely sexier carts our there in your price range.
    If hope can grow from dirt like me, it can be done. - EV
  • pjpjpaulpjpjpaul Posts: 1,686
    I have a 2m Blue and its amazing. Im sure the Red would do well for a lot of people.
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  • ski-bumski-bum Boston Posts: 1,017
    edited March 2018
    I ended up with a Shure M97xE.
    Sound fantastic for the money and later on I can install a Jico SAS stylus upgrade. 
    Post edited by ski-bum on
    9/15/98 - Great Woods................9/29/04 - Fleet Center.....................8/02/08 - Opera House (EV)............10/16/13 - DCU Center
    8/29/00 - Tweeter Center............5/24/06 - Banknorth Garden............5/17/10 - Banknorth Garden.............08/05/16 - Fenway Park
    7/11/03 - Tweeter Center............5/25/06 - Banknorth Garden............6/16/11 - Wang Theatre (EV)............08/07/16 - Fenway Park
    9/28/04 - Fleet Center................6/30/08 - Tweeter Center
  • lolobugglolobugg BLUE RDGE MTNS Posts: 8,195
    ski-bum said:
    I ended up with a Shire M97xE.
    Sound fantastic for the money and later on I can install a Jico SAS stylus upgrade. 


    that's a really nice sounding cartridge.

    I use the 80s version of it.

    livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446

    1995- New Orleans, LA  : New Orleans, LA

    1996- Charleston, SC

    1998- Atlanta, GA: Birmingham, AL: Greenville, SC: Knoxville, TN

    2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN

    2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA

    2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)

    2006- Cincinnati, OH

    2008- Columbia, SC

    2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2

    2010- Bristow, VA

    2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL

    2012- Atlanta, GA

    2013- Charlotte, NC

    2014- Cincinnati, OH

    2015- New York, NY

    2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA

    2017- ED VED- Louisville, KY

    2018- Chicago, IL x2, Boston, MA x2

    2020- Nashville, TN 

    2022- Smashville 

    2023- Austin, TX x2

    2024- Baltimore

  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,491
    Here is one for you.  Must be a prototype with a price like that!

    http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=LYETNA

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