AudiogoN Forums: Best Cartridges for the Money You've Experienced

Best Cartridges for the Money You've Experienced

I'd like to ask those of you who have tried many a cartridge over the years to nominate ones that you feel are among the very best and are available today, new or used, at a substantially lower price than most of today's reference-level cartridges. Feel free to mention great cartridges from years past that still show up now and then on Audiogon.

I currently have a Koetsu Rosewood Signature mounted on an SME-5 arm. I'd like to go up from there in sound quality without having to rob a bank.

Bolson (Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

01-18-08

Responses (1-41 of 41)

Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

01-18-08 Hi,look up member"rauliruegas" posts.he is a wealt ... Beragamo

01-18-08: Jaybo
the audio technica 150mlx mm is one that performs incredibly, especially for the price.
Jaybo (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

01-18-08 Thanks for the tip on "raulirugas'" posts. i've ne ... Bolson

01-18-08 having gone through many a cartridge(clearaudio ref,koetsu, ... Tpsonic

01-18-08 Shure v15 type iv - best deal in the world... -rw- Rlwainwright

01-18-08 I'll take my dl-103 (note: not an 'r') any day over just abo ... Palasr

01-18-08 Dear bolson: of course you can grow-up from your koetsu for ... Rauliruegas

01-19-08 "i currently have a koetsu rosewood signature mounted o ... Xronx

01-19-08 Raul, i was wondering if you could recommend a cart alignmen ... Pauly

01-19-08 All cartridges have their personalities..i've heard lots of ... Stringreen

01-20-08 I concur with paul above, just installed my ebony head shell ... James1969

01-21-08 Dear pauly: over the years i used several ones like: dennese ... Rauliruegas

01-21-08 * shure v-15 type iii and type v both of these cartriges w ... Mitch4t

01-21-08 Having owned van den hul, benz, koetsu, shelter and grado, i ... Stevecham

01-21-08 Curious as to why raul doesn't seem to have tried any grados ... Kitch29

01-22-08 Dear kitch29: well as a fact i did and that grado ( the trib ... Rauliruegas

01-22-08 Raul, thanks for the reply. i missed that mention. not famil ... Kitch29

01-23-08 Dear kitch: +++++ " what about the suspensions of these ... Rauliruegas

01-26-08 I'll give you agoners a little heads up exclusive. i've had ... Jimaxp

01-29-08 Dear jimaxp: well not so unique, that cartridge ( that is a ... Rauliruegas

02-05-08 Thanks much to everyone who's responded, and especially to r ... Bolson

02-07-08 General electric variable reluctance ($10 new price 1957, $2 ... Mint604

02-18-08 If you set up your turntable properly, there is no "up& ... Stringreen

02-18-08 I think there is "up" but it's a matter of taste. Piedpiper

02-18-08 I suppose my check is in the mail... Stringreen

02-18-08 ..just for your information....i had a grado sonata low outp ... Stringreen

02-18-08 at seven times the price, let's hope so. Johnnyb53

02-21-08 I'm no expert on cartridges but i really like the ortofon x5 ... Bobgates

02-21-08 Zyx 100 universe Thomasheisig

02-21-08 Stanton 681eee. really, installed on a stax ua7 arm on a th ... Inpepinnovations

02-21-08 I would have to agree with tpsonic, i've had many carts. koe ... Perditty

02-21-08 Bolson, your original question seems to imply an interest in ... Peterayer

02-21-08 I had both the shelter 501 and the fantastic 901. both of t ... Aisip

02-21-08 My cartridge experience is thin compared to others. i loved ... Oilmanmojo

02-22-08 Koetsu tiger eye platinum diamond... it is no surprise at it ... Pgeorgyev

02-23-08 Lyra argo several months ago i would certainly have said de ... Restock

02-23-08 The audio-technica at440mla i just bought. wow! what a diffe ... Chris_383

02-23-08 "probably the best mm cartridge at any price." i ... Piedpiper

02-23-08 Correction: "one of the best at any price". realis ... Chris_383

02-24-08 Chris, as you may know, there are a lot of choices in mms u ... Piedpiper

03-01-08 Dear chris: imho i think and i agree with piedpiper on the s ... Rauliruegas