cartridge and stylus choices

mickeyrat
mickeyrat Posts: 44,602
edited December 2020 in Other Music
school me.......
pros and cons of one over another etc....



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you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
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Comments

  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,740
    I mean, a lot of it is personal taste. On top of it, certain cartridges work better with different tables. 

    I think your best bet is to google your table and “replacement cartridge” and see what audiophile forums you get and read what people’s thoughts are. 

    I think by and large Ortofon and grade are the most popular and go to. Ive had a couple of grades over the years (blue, gold 2 and a reference series). Been real happy with them.
  • May 30th
    May 30th Posts: 1,896
    I have an Ortofon bronze and a blue and I’m happy with both 
  • Zod
    Zod Posts: 10,909
    I use a denon 300f (I Feel like I'm getting that wrong).  Bought it was an Ortofon Red, and then a friend sold me his Ortofon Blue.  The upgrade made a pretty solid difference.
  • cp3iverson
    cp3iverson Posts: 8,702
    Give them a few weeks to really shine.  Like 100 hours of playtime
  • GlowGirl
    GlowGirl New York, NY Posts: 12,126
    Zod said:
    I use a denon 300f (I Feel like I'm getting that wrong).  Bought it was an Ortofon Red, and then a friend sold me his Ortofon Blue.  The upgrade made a pretty solid difference.
     I have that same TT, and I use the Ortofon Red. If you think the Blue makes a huge difference, I may just have to get that one.

  • madtowndave
    madtowndave Minneapolis, MN Posts: 4,013
    I have a Project Debut Carbon, and I just upgraded to the Ortofon Blue. It hasn't had break in time, but I immediately noticed a difference.
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  • MedozK
    MedozK Tennessee Posts: 9,212
    edited December 2020
    This really doesn't help you, but a while ago I was reading about how much to spend on a new cartridge because I was looking to upgrade and I didn't want to put an expensive cartridge on an average turntable and waste money on a cartridge that the table wasn't able to utilize. As I did more research I found some thoughts that your cartridge should cost about 1/3 of the cost of your turntable. Now I'm not sure how they came up with that number, but it kinda made sense to me.

    So on a $500 TT, the cartridge would be about $165. A $1500 TT you would want to put an equivalent of about a $500 cartridge.

    For Christmas I am updating my setup, and I went with the pretty much the ratio above when deciding on mine.
    Post edited by MedozK on
  • GlowGirl
    GlowGirl New York, NY Posts: 12,126
    MedozK said:
    This really doesn't help you, but a while ago I was reading about how much to spend on a new cartridge because I was looking to upgrade and I didn't want to put an expensive cartridge on an average turntable and waste money on a cartridge that the table wasn't able to utilize. As I did more research I found some thoughts that your cartridge should cost about 1/3 of the cost of your turntable. Now I'm not sure how they came up with that number, but it kinda made sense to me.

    So on a $500 TT, the cartridge would be about $165. A $1500 TT you would want to put an equivalent of about a $500 cartridge.

    For Christmas I am updating my setup, and I went with the pretty much the ratio above when deciding on mine.
    Using that theory, the Red is probably fine for my TT. The Blue would be about 1/2 the cost of the TT. At some point I am going to upgrade my system, but I just got this one and it is a nice starter for me. It should be fine for the next few years at least. Then I will look into a TT upgrade. I just really enjoy the fully automatic feature of the Denon.

  • mickeyrat
    mickeyrat Posts: 44,602
    MedozK said:
    This really doesn't help you, but a while ago I was reading about how much to spend on a new cartridge because I was looking to upgrade and I didn't want to put an expensive cartridge on an average turntable and waste money on a cartridge that the table wasn't able to utilize. As I did more research I found some thoughts that your cartridge should cost about 1/3 of the cost of your turntable. Now I'm not sure how they came up with that number, but it kinda made sense to me.

    So on a $500 TT, the cartridge would be about $165. A $1500 TT you would want to put an equivalent of about a $500 cartridge.

    For Christmas I am updating my setup, and I went with the pretty much the ratio above when deciding on mine.

    that IS helpful info. but you're right, for my particular applications , not so much.

    so for vintage tts, what would your estimation be?
    _____________________________________SIGNATURE________________________________________________

    Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
    you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
    memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
    another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    I'm in the market for a new TT as my Project Carbon Debut motor thumping is driving me to distraction.  Because so much of the sound quality from a TT relates to the cartridge, and because I've been quite happy with the red Ortofon, I'll thinking of going  with a Technics SL1500C which comes stock with the Ortofon red.   

    I would think a lot of what needs to be considered in choosing a cartridge has to do with your budget and your adaptability.  SOme people have a variety of carts and can change them around as they wish and are more open to experimentation. I'm the kind of person who resists change when it comes to aesthetics.  If it look good, sounds good, tastes good, don't mess with the recipe.  If you like change and are adaptable, your choices will be greater.  If you have the budget, try a few different cartridges and see what works best for you.


    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • madtowndave
    madtowndave Minneapolis, MN Posts: 4,013
    brianlux said:
    I'm in the market for a new TT as my Project Carbon Debut motor thumping is driving me to distraction.  Because so much of the sound quality from a TT relates to the cartridge, and because I've been quite happy with the red Ortofon, I'll thinking of going  with a Technics SL1500C which comes stock with the Ortofon red.   

    I would think a lot of what needs to be considered in choosing a cartridge has to do with your budget and your adaptability.  SOme people have a variety of carts and can change them around as they wish and are more open to experimentation. I'm the kind of person who resists change when it comes to aesthetics.  If it look good, sounds good, tastes good, don't mess with the recipe.  If you like change and are adaptable, your choices will be greater.  If you have the budget, try a few different cartridges and see what works best for you.


    I've never experienced the common motor thump, but I don't know if it because I added a speed box shortly after it was purchased.
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    Alpine Valley 1 & 2-11
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    St. Paul-14
    Milwaukee-14
    Denver-22
    St. Paul 1 & 2 - 23
  • eddiec
    eddiec Posts: 3,960
    madtowndave said:
    I have a Project Debut Carbon, and I just upgraded to the Ortofon Blue. It hasn't had break in time, but I immediately noticed a difference.

    Did you upgrade the platter along with the Blue?
  • Merkin Baller
    Merkin Baller Posts: 12,818
    Out of curiosity, how often do you folks change out your stylus, and how do you know when it's time... is it as simple as the sound quality suffering? 

    Noob here, obviously. 
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    Merkin Baller said:
    Out of curiosity, how often do you folks change out your stylus, and how do you know when it's time... is it as simple as the sound quality suffering? 

    Noob here, obviously. 

    A year or two ago I wondered the same thing and asked some of the audiophile folks at .stevehoffman.tv.  The general consensus seems to be every 1,000 hours of play time.

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Zod
    Zod Posts: 10,909
    GlowGirl said:
    Zod said:
    I use a denon 300f (I Feel like I'm getting that wrong).  Bought it was an Ortofon Red, and then a friend sold me his Ortofon Blue.  The upgrade made a pretty solid difference.
     I have that same TT, and I use the Ortofon Red. If you think the Blue makes a huge difference, I may just have to get that one.

    Yah it made quite the difference.  The nice thing about the ortofon is the catridge is the same.  You only need to upgrade the stylus to go from red to blue.   It's a bit cheaper than replacing the entire cartridge.
  • Merkin Baller
    Merkin Baller Posts: 12,818
    brianlux said:
    Merkin Baller said:
    Out of curiosity, how often do you folks change out your stylus, and how do you know when it's time... is it as simple as the sound quality suffering? 

    Noob here, obviously. 

    A year or two ago I wondered the same thing and asked some of the audiophile folks at .stevehoffman.tv.  The general consensus seems to be every 1,000 hours of play time.

    Thanks.
  • Zod
    Zod Posts: 10,909
    brianlux said:
    Merkin Baller said:
    Out of curiosity, how often do you folks change out your stylus, and how do you know when it's time... is it as simple as the sound quality suffering? 

    Noob here, obviously. 

    A year or two ago I wondered the same thing and asked some of the audiophile folks at .stevehoffman.tv.  The general consensus seems to be every 1,000 hours of play time.

    That could take a long while for me.   I probably find the time to spin 1 or 2 records a week.   That's probably 10 to 20 years for me to wear down a stylus.   It never even occurred to me they could wear out.  Friend of mind was telling they were out after a few years, but it's probably because has spends more time listening to his records than I do.
  • madtowndave
    madtowndave Minneapolis, MN Posts: 4,013
    eddiec said:
    madtowndave said:
    I have a Project Debut Carbon, and I just upgraded to the Ortofon Blue. It hasn't had break in time, but I immediately noticed a difference.

    Did you upgrade the platter along with the Blue?
    I have not upgraded the platter, though I've had my eye on the acrylic replacement for quite some time. 
    Nashville-00
    Nashville-03
    Chicago-07
    E.V. Milwaukee-08
    Chicago 1 & 2-09
    Alpine Valley 1 & 2-11
    Wrigley-13
    St. Paul-14
    Milwaukee-14
    Denver-22
    St. Paul 1 & 2 - 23
  • mickeyrat
    mickeyrat Posts: 44,602
    lets include headshells to the mix too.
    are these model specific or fairly universal across brands?

    carts and stylus need to match by brand with headshell not as specific?

    _____________________________________SIGNATURE________________________________________________

    Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
    you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
    memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
    another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    Zod said:
    brianlux said:
    Merkin Baller said:
    Out of curiosity, how often do you folks change out your stylus, and how do you know when it's time... is it as simple as the sound quality suffering? 

    Noob here, obviously. 

    A year or two ago I wondered the same thing and asked some of the audiophile folks at .stevehoffman.tv.  The general consensus seems to be every 1,000 hours of play time.

    That could take a long while for me.   I probably find the time to spin 1 or 2 records a week.   That's probably 10 to 20 years for me to wear down a stylus.   It never even occurred to me they could wear out.  Friend of mind was telling they were out after a few years, but it's probably because has spends more time listening to his records than I do.
    At one time I would have said a stylus would last me maybe  year and a half.  Now days, as much as I love music, I limit my music time due to hearing issues so I'm guessing a stylus will last me more like 5 years.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

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