I just got a Shelter 201 a few days ago. I’m still listening and breaking it in. At US list of $310 it’s an OK deal, but when you get it from a Japanese dealer on eBay at $167, it’s a no-brainer. It’s a rather vivid cartridge, very dynamic (it can make you jump) with a rich and natural-sounding midrange, rich but quick bass and smooth and natural treble. Also good imaging and soundstage. Whatever kind of music I put on, it sounds like the cartridge was designed for that kind of music. Using it in a listenng session always leaves me feeling good, which I consider to be an important indicator of its effectiveness.
There’s a HOMC that has some very positive Internet buzz and piques my curiosity--the LpGear BIN 323. It has 1.7mV output and a nude 5x20 um line contact stylus. On my high-output-only rig, the 1.6mV Denon DL160 has plenty of output and the Audio Technica AT-MONO3/LP does just fine at 1.2mV. There is also a less expensive version, the BIN 215 at $249. But it has a bonded elliptical stylus and the nude line contact on the BIN 323 seems to be a good deal for an extra $80.
There’s a HOMC that has some very positive Internet buzz and piques my curiosity--the LpGear BIN 323. It has 1.7mV output and a nude 5x20 um line contact stylus. On my high-output-only rig, the 1.6mV Denon DL160 has plenty of output and the Audio Technica AT-MONO3/LP does just fine at 1.2mV. There is also a less expensive version, the BIN 215 at $249. But it has a bonded elliptical stylus and the nude line contact on the BIN 323 seems to be a good deal for an extra $80.