I use an Ortofon MC 5000 with its matching step up transformer riding happily in an SME IV and Oracle Limited Edition Premier IV. I'm familiar with the MM cartridges you mentioned, and used to sell them. None of them compare to a reasonably good MC cartridge, such as the Denon 103 or the Ortofon's you mention. Haven't heard the X-1 and X-5. I suspect that you may have to go some to beat you MC20. I wouldn't be quick to push it away. Newer isn't always better. I'm itching to try a Shelter -- I've heard they're good -- and they're priced better than the Ortofons. Enjoy the quest, and welcome back to vinyl.
Ortofon MC Question
I've recently gotten back into vinyl and have had a lot of fun setting things up. In case some of you ask, I've got a Thorens TD125 with an SME 3009 improved, has the detachable headshell. Once I got looking I found a whole bunch of old cartridges that I had packed away in the eighties. I've been trying cartridges with the new TT, like Empire 2000z, Stanton 681EEE, Shure M91ed, and they all sound so much better than they did on my old Garrard DD75. I even bought a new Ortofon super OM30. I almost didn't bother with one of the old carts, being that it's a MC and I thought I'd lost the head amp. Well I found it and installed the Ortofon MC20. This cart sounded better than All the rest. It bothers me because it's probably 20 some years old. What I need to know, are the new Ortofon MC's, like the X-1 and X5, any where the same as my old MC20? I know they're higher output and don't need the head amp, but would they be similar?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.