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Just Snagged a Micro Seiki DD-35 - Need Help With Affordable Cartridge Options for SM-505

Hi All! Just picked up a decent MS DD-35 for a steal at Goodwill. I know very little about tonearms and cartridges, having only purchased a few for DJing with Technics and Numarks over the years. Was hoping one of my old DJ cartridges would work for testing this bad boy out, but alas, they don't seem to fit. Any advice on an affordable cartridge for this bad boy. Poor millennial, so my budget is tight. Honestly, if I can't afford a cartridge, I'll probably just sell this bad boy. Hopefully it won't come to that.

This model was recommended by others, but dang... $400 is way too much for me.
https://www.ebay.com/p/SIGNET-TK7LCA-Cartridge-and-7lca-Stylus/673171598

Am I S.O.L. (surely out of luck)?

Here's the DD-35:
https://imgur.com/k090Pxu
mycoscott
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Your DJ cartridge will work, but if you want a significant upgrade in sound quality you need a Hi-Fi cartridge, for this tonearm look only for MM or MI type. Your turntable looks nice.

I’ll give you a few options ...

1) If you want all in one: Grado designed a DJ series of cartridges based on their popular hi-fi models, if you want to combine a nice sounding DJ cartridge with the ability to swap the stylus for much better souding and more delicate Hi-Fi stylus then you can buy any stylus from Prestige series ... they are compatible with DJ100 or DJ200 cartridge body, i even asked Grado to make sure).

2) If you need just a separate Hi-Fi cartridge look for SoundSmith MI cartridges, probably used (you can find them for a good price). Make sure to check new Garrott Brothers cartridges from Australia. Other members will definitely add all those Nagaoka, AT and ususl suspects as always.

3) BUT If you want something very special and MUCH better than relatively cheap modern MM/MI you can look for some amazing vintage cartridges at $300-400 range from Audio-Technica (AT-ML150 OCC with Beryllium cantilever and MicroLine stylus), Grace (F-9), Pickering XSV-3000 (with Stereohedron stylus), Victor (X1-IIe with Titanium cantilever and elliptical stylus) for example. In this case you have to buy only from reputable source to make sure they are perfect.

PM me if you have specific questions 
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chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
A great match with that particular arm! This is the best sub-$500 cartridge available!
This is funny statement.

In my opinion even Grado Signature XTZ ($750 in the 80s and probably twice as much today) is not the best cartridge compared to some others in sub $500 category, but the cheapest Grado MI can't compete even with vintage $350 Pickering XSV3000 or $450 AT-ML150 OCC. 

What is good about Grado Prestige series is a range of different styli avaibale today from Grado, including top of the line 8MZ, TLZ, XTZ, so the upgrade of the stylus (and oversall sound) is always possible. 

Grado DJ100 and DJ200 has the same MI generator as the Grado Black.
Those Grado DJ carts belong to the Prestige 2 series and they are the best sounding DJ carts designed today (with extended frequency response up to 50k Hz and does not require high tracking force as most of the other inferior dj carts).     

@mycoscot Maybe you just have to replace your dj carts with a pair of Grado DJ100 or DJ200 ? Technics headshell will work fine on your Micro Seiki tonearm. 
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