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Cartridge recommendations

I think I need to replace my MC cartridge.  It's a Madrigal Carnegie.  I'm no longer convinced that a replacement needs to be a MC.  That was true when I bought the Carnegie but time and technology have changed.  I read last night that under $500 you're better off getting a MM.  At the $500 point and up, a MC starts to make sense.  At the $1,000 point, absolutely, get a MC.  But that was one opinion.

I'm setting a tentative budget of $1,000 to $1,500.  At $2,000 I become Ukrainian (fierce resistance occurs).

I have a Grado cartridge that I use on my 'other' TT and have a preference toward Grado cartridges.  As an aside, I visited the Grado website last night and found it very difficult to navigate.  I wanted to start by selecting a price, then go from there.  I could not find any pricing in the brief time I spent there.  I know it's there, I've seen it.  I'll try again.

So I'm looking for suggestions.  MM, MI, or MC.  I prefer warmish (Grado is known for that), smooth and hopefully detailed.  Sound staging is irrelevant.

I've started a second discussion aimed at questioning if the Carnegie is truly dead, as I fear.  If you want to chime in on that I welcome your expertise.

listener2

Showing 2 responses by listener2

listener2 OP
12 posts
 

If you have the arm for it...  That's an interesting question.  I don't know the answer.

I have an Eminent Technology II, (mounted on on a VPI HW-19 MK II)  I'll have to dig out the ET owner's manual to see what the specs are. Since the tone arm (a boron tube I believe, or some material that makes it stiff yet light) rides on a column of air, I think a heavier than usual cartridge might be too heavy.

And to all others, thank you for the responses. 

I'll check out LP Gear. 

I also sent an email to Soundsmith asking if they can rebuild the Carnegie.  If they can, that might the more cost-efficient way to go.  I also asked them a few questions about their cartridges.  No response yet.

listener2 OP
12 posts
 

Thank you to everyone who offered advice or opinion, it was helpful to hear other views.

The resolution of this is that I'm going to get a SoundSmith Zephyr Mk 3.  Don't know yet whether it will the the high output or the low.  My phono preamp can accept either.  Two factors drove the decision, one good, one bad.

The bad:  SoiundSmith never responded to my inquiry if they could repair/rebuild my Carnegie 1.  I interpret that as being a no.

The good:  I had a long and informative conversation with Peter  Ledermann (president of SoundSmith).  He gave me a cautionary note with physics underlying it, as to why mounting a high compliance Grado on my ET2 could be a bad idea.  That convinced me to get the Zephyr.

Again, thank you all.

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