cartridge for Sota Comet

I'd consider the Dynavector 10x4 or the Goldring 1042.

Twl,
Thanks for your suggestions. I have found a good deal on an Ortofon X5 from Hong Kong. My concern is that it is on 2mv. My preamp only has 38.5db of gain. Is this enough? And what do you think of this cartridge? Thanks for your help.

I think the X5 is a good cartridge, but I doubt that you have enough phono section gain to use it.

Twl,
Sorry to keep bothering you, but I have one more question. I have an old Adcom 555 pre-amp with both MM and MC sections. I don't know the gain of the unit, but my question is if I run the X5 through the MM section of the Adcom and then the line stage of my CJ are the gain added together, or do I just get the gain of the Adcom. I haven't used the Adcom in a long time, but if I remeber correctly the phono section wasn't bad. If using the Adcom is a good idea, that brings low output cartridges in as possible choices. Thanks again.

That might work, but I can't guarantee the results. If you already have the gear laying around, it wouldn't hurt to try it. Just make sure that you don't try to use two phono stages. Use the Adcom phono, come out of the main preamp output, and go to a line level input on the CJ. By dialing in the gain on both units to an acceptable level, you may get away with it. There may be an increase in noise floor, and a long signal path, but it may be acceptable to you.

Twl,
Thanks for your help. At only $125 for the X5, I will try it. If it doesn't work, I haven't lost much. I can always sell it and go with the Dynavector.

Folks,

I have been lurking through this entire repartee, but I felt that I should respond before someone makes a decision based on erroneous information. My point is that the X5 will do quite nicely with 38db. I say this because I have one in my Comet, and it works quite nicely (and loudly, when need be) with only 40 db of boost from my Musical Surroundings Phonomena. If you consult the Ortofon web site you will see that the X-5 has a very high output for an MC cartridge. Ortofon advertises the X5 as a High-Output Moving Coil cartridge, and at 2.2 mv it is right up there with many MM cartridges. BTW: I know that the web site states that the output is 2.0 mv, however, the leaflet that came with my cartridge states that it is 2.2mv. I have also seen the later value stated in several reviews.

As for sound, that is precisely the reason why it lives on the end of my Comet’s tone arm. I think it sounds just fantastic. It has a much better mid range than the Benz Micro Glider that preceded it… and a much tighter bass that the Dynavector 17D2, which preceded the Benz.

Quite frankly, I cannot think of a better cartridge I have heard on a Sota Comet. But, (here is a rather quirky observation) when I tried the X-5 on my Well Tempered… let us just say that I was dissatisfied (in the extreme).

Bottom line: the Sota Comet and the Ortofon X-5 make an exquisite match. One can certainly spend much more money, but I do not feel that the Comet can make better music with another cartridge.

Best,
Lance