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Phono cartridge suggestions sought

Hi All,

 I am in the market for a new phono cartridge. I can run up to $1400 but would prefer not to if i can get the performance I want. 

I listen to predominantly Jazz on vinyl, though some rock, folk and classical also gets spun

I recently heard a Hana SL and Rega Apheta at a dealers—different decks, same room and system. Both sounded good although the Apheta was not as heavy sounding and at the same time sounded more “present”. I wasn’t really looking at the Apheta, but it was available to listen to. 

The room is accoustically live with lots of glass and hard surfaces but all sounds good. 

System: Naim Atom, Bryston TT, Parasound JC jr phono stage (so huge loading flexibility and gain up to the 60’s), Totem Acoustics Signature Ones, Transparent cables. Current cart: Denon 103r with 250 hours on it, so it is winding down. 

I have enjoyed the Denon. But wondering about that all elusive “more.”

on paper spec, nobody touches the Grados for channel separation, but not sure how essential a criterion that should be. Especially since I worked hard to tame some RFI from a nearby antenna and the Grados I have heard said are not well-shielded. 

Since my Totems only drop down to 45 Hz, I suppose absolute resolution on the low end could be sacrificed for other sonic goods. 

Ok, hive mind, what do you suggest?
dramatictenor

Showing 2 responses by lewm

lewm
12,448 posts
 
I am not sure I would recommend a vintage cartridge (many of the best of which will cost $1000 and more) to a person who is new to the hobby or is just now trying to upgrade for the first time.  Because one cannot be sure of the condition of the suspension of a very old cartridge, and because one must take the word of a private seller as to condition even of the stylus.  Before I would buy an expensive vintage cartridge these days, I would insist that it must be inspected by an independent source, like SoundSmith.  SS will do such an inspection for a nominal sum.  The peace of mind is well worth the cost.  I do own and enjoy several fine vintage cartridges, but I bought them when they were relatively cheap and tried to stick to cartridges that were truly NOS to begin with.  I've had only one bad experience, after having made at least a dozen such purchases.
Meantime, I can vouch for the AT ART7 as a superb cartridge that competes with all of my expensive LOMCs and can be bought new.  Beware, however, that its output is low, 0.12mV.  You need at least 65db of total gain before the amplifier input.
lewm
12,448 posts
 
Find a fine vintage MM or MI cartridge and if there are doubts about its condition, have it re-tipped by SS.  Short of spending many thousands on an MC cartridge, you will be in great shape.  And I am not even sure that spending many thousands on an MC cartridge would be better, sound-wise.  (By the way, any decent "stereo" cartridge that lives up to that label will give you more than adequate channel separation; that would be the last thing I'd worry about in terms of specs.)
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