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Cartridge opinions: New stylus, or new cart?

I have a Technics SL1210 M5G that has several aftermarket tweaks to make it into a clean, clear, expansive-sounding TT with low noise floor (fluid damper, tonearm wrap, sorbothane mat, brass cones/Vibrapods, heavy butcher block platform, LPGear ZuPreme headshell).

For the last 4 years I've been using and enjoying an Audio Technica AT150MLX. I have a little upgrade money available and am contemplating a new cartridge if I'd get an appreciable improvement. The replacement stylus for the AT150MLX is $225, which would get me nearly halfway to some interesting contenders: The ones I'm thinking about are the Grado Statement Sonata1, Soundsmith Carmen (wood-bodied version of the SMMC3), Audio Technica AT33EV, Denon DL-304 or Denon DL-S1. The DL-S1 is normally $949, but I can get one in the price range of the others mentioned.

The output of the cartridge is not a big factor for me as I have a Jolida JD9A, which has three gain levels, two output levels, and a comprehensive array of DIP switches to optimize capacitance for MM/MI carts and resistance for LOMC carts.

Right now I'm leaning toward the AT33EV as JR has an attractive price and user reviews cite its combination of MC speed and airiness combined with a little warmth and bass extension reminiscent of the Grado Statement Sonata. I definitely don't want thin and edgy, nor do I want overly warm and syrupy. I want full-bodied rendition with dynamics, retrieval of hall ambience, and hall and well-traced hall ambience and instrument resonance decay.
johnnyb53
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johnnyb53 OP
3,510 posts
 
Good question, Viridian. The stock effective mass of the Technics arm is 12g, the same as an RB300/301. To hit that 12g, Technics uses a 7.5g headshell. Try finding one that light on the aftermarket. I have a 12g Sumiko headshell and a 14g LPGear ZuPreme. These raise the effective mass to 16.5 and 18.5g respectively, or 17 and 19 when you count the cartridge mounting hardware. The 12g mass arm works well with compliances of 20-30 and the 12-14g headshells extend the range to carts with compliance ranges of 10-15. I also have the KAB fluid damper, which *significantly* lowers the amplitude of the cart/tonearm resonance, whatever that pitch may be.

So far I've been able to mount anything from a 30-compliance Shure M97xE to my current 10-compliance AT150MLX and have them hit a resonant peak of 10-11 Hz.
Post removed 
bpoletti
1,525 posts
 
If you are considering a 33EV, have you also considered a 33PTG? Still available on eBay from some Japanese and Hong Kong dealers ($490 or so from 2juki). The PTG takes the AT-33 to another level of performance. It's a reasonably good match to the effective mass of your existing arm.
johnnyb53 OP
3,510 posts
 
Bpoletti: Thanks for reminding me about the 33PTG. I notice that it has a MicroLine stylus and boron cantilever, a combo I've grown fond of on my AT150MLX. I also notice that it can be had for $489 shipped. I was tempted by JR's $450 shipped for the 33EV. I'd gladly pay another $39 to get a MicroLine and boron.

Viridian: I wasn't aware of the complications of how effective mass is reached, but it makes sense to me. However, I've wrapped the Technics' lightweight tonearm with Teflon pipe thread tape and it made a notable difference in reducing midrange glare. Add the fluid damper and the arm should be reasonably damped. Maybe not ideal for every cart, but better. The AT150MLX I've been using the past 4 years has the same compliance rating and nearly the same cartridge weight (within 2 g) of the 33EV and 33PTG. I'm sort of getting excited to hear what the 33PTG's response would do to treble resolution, given that its response is more than an octave higher than the AT150MLX. It also is spec'd for tighter channel separation.
bpoletti
1,525 posts
 
There are a lot of comments on vinylasylum related to the 33PTG that might be useful.
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rauliruegas
12,781 posts
 
Dear Jhonnyb53: If you want to follow AT maybe your best shot could be the new ANV ( anniversary ) model.

Now, this one IMHO is a better performer that what you own and better performer than almost all the cartridges named here:

http://www.lpgear.com/product/BOMMC2.html

on the LOMC side I like a lot the Denon DL-S1. This is not a cartridge for every phono stage you will need a very high gain unit with very low noise and that be an active high gain not a passive one.

IMHO other top alternatives are the Goldring G800 and the Clearaudio Virtuoso ( re-tipped. ) or you can always try for " penauts " the AT-95SA ( you could be surprised on its quality performance level in its original status. ) that you can improve through re.tip with Axel.

Anyway , that's my experiences about. You have almost endless alternatives.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
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