You can´t have a decent "silky smooth" MC for that price. Why dontcha try to get used MM, MI or MF instead ? On eBay there´s one vintage GLANZ MFG-51L w/ Micro Line stylus on aluminum cantilever and it´s one of the finest from Glanz really (I have one). I´ve bought several vintage carts even an MC from eBay and A´gon and all are OK. Just look at the seller´s feedback before buying if in doubt, most sellers are honest ordinary guys and music lovers.
Recommendations for an MC cart on Audiogon
I’d appreciate any input on MC carts here for sale at $850 (MAX) or below. Reading the info put out here, it’s seems only CONUS purchases can really be safe. So, I’m sticking with that. I received a George Warren tt (never letting go of) with a Moth Rega 250 (upgrading in ~6 mos) & Denon AVR 4806 (upgrading in 12-18 mos). I got suggestions recently but, the cart purchase fell thru & now the choices are different. I like things just a little tad bright. Read a lot of carts are “mellow”, “smooth” & “silky deep” so, really looking for that. Used is great bang for my buck & this is a safe site. People seem universally leary of eBay. No... do this instead of cart feedback plz.
thanks as always for your knowledge.
thanks as always for your knowledge.
Showing 7 responses by harold-not-the-barrel
Very well, if you really must have an MC, for that price range it´s possible to get one superb vintage MC but these are getting very rare. I once got Shinon Red LOMC w/ Micro Ridge stylus and boron cantilever for $600. The Shinon that won one cartridge test and was raved by no other than Harry Pearson, The Absolute Sound: "Without having listened this (Red) one cannot say knowing the full glory of analog replay", on an advertisement in early 1990´s. It really is that good. |
^ +1 Ah, now I see, the AT-ART9 is much cheaper in the USA than elsewhere ? The cheapest on eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audio-Technica-Japan-MC-type-stereo-cartridge-AT-ART9-with-Tracking-JAIP/... Yes go for the ART9, it truly is a superlative (MC) cartridge in everything ! But it takes 200 hours to get the best out of it IME. Has become my MC reference so far. Another option: The AT-ART7 is also a superbly performing MC, it´s basically the same as ART9 but has a very low output voltage 0.12 mV: https://eu.audio-technica.com/AT-ART7 You can´t wrong with these new ART cartridges ; ) |
20x2 and that Orto are inferior to both ART9/ART7 and 17DX/17D3. Period. 17DX costs app. 1200 GBP, ART9 much less and is truly a superb modern technology MC in all aspects, not to mention in sound quality. In addition, the 17Ds are NOT EASY to setup and thus get the best out of them !! Why believe in an unknown dealer, why not trust an audiophile with decades of knowledge and experience ?? |
^^ +1. Audio Marts are free for all and this makes them the best markets. A´gon´s and eBay´s fees are ridiculous, not to mentions PainPal´s. I never use it ´cos it´s just a greedy monster that nothing can control. They will and do whatever they desire without any notion, they give a damn to their customers. All they care is money. And due to marriage of eBay and PainPal, eBay has become a very secure market for dishonest buyers because eBay in near all disputes sides the buyer. Nowadays eBay´s biggest problem is dishonesty due to PainPal´s "protection" policy. Sad but true. Btw, here´s ASTATIC´s 2nd best cart (after the MF 2500) for a ridiculous price on US Audio Mart. https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649457014-astatic-mf100/ It´s absolutely a killer MF cart because I own another sample : ) Highly recommended ! |
MC vs MM war is an old hat : ^) _ ... like most of us writing here, right ? Anyway, the MF-100 ain´t too bright in my system. A note: looking more closely that MF-100 on US Mart seems to be a new generation ASTATIC (due to yellowish body, and hence the low price), not a vintage in fact but it´s good nevertheless. Btw, I also have an MF 2500 ; ) Thanks Raul for your guidance. OP, good luck with your choice |