2. analog
  3. 169685-112482

Where to go from Grado Gold?

Hej

I need advice choosing a new MM cartridge. Yes, MM, not MC. My Grado Gold 2 has served me for aboiut two years, since I took up vinyl again, but now I want to get more from my records. I really like Grado Gold 2 but I feel that I want more of...everything. What is important to me is that the cartridge is good at tracking and sibilance and distorted sound is the worst I can think of. What I've heard from Ortofon is not the type of sound I'm looking for. I think Ortofon sounds cold and analytic. Someone described the sound as CD like and I agree with that. So, any ideas what cartridges I should check out? Budget up to $600. Tonearm Pro-Ject 9cc.
simna
simna OP
165 posts
 
Garrott and Grace are brands that I haven’t seen here in Sweden.

Audio Technica VM750SH and VM740ML are two of the cartridges that has cought my intrest but a friend of mine says that AT has always been sounding bright and thin. But he hadn’t heard the newer series.
Does all AT have the same type of sound, from the cheapest to the expensive?

Nagoka; they gets mixed feelings about quality it seems. What is this "Nagoka sound"?

Mayby I should just try to change the original Grado Gold stylus with 8MZ or XTZ? But what will the difference be?
vinylvin
145 posts
 
I have the Audio Technica VM540ML, to me anything but bright and thin.
Sounds pretty amazing to me. I like it better than my Hana SH.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Garrott and Grace are brands that I haven’t seen here in Sweden.


Why do you want to see them in Sweden if you can order online?
I’m not far from Sweden and I don’t care what I can see locally, I order everything online.

Garrott is Australian made
Grace is vintage Japanese cartridge, SoundSmith with his new styli for Grace is from NYC, USA
If you need help with NOS cartridges with no import tax in Sweden ask me, I'm in St.Petersburg. 



Mayby I should just try to change the original Grado Gold stylus with 8MZ or XTZ? But what will the difference be?

With genuine XTZ stylus you will get the maximum possible from your Gold, stylus is the most important. XTZ is the best stylus for your cartridge.

simna OP
165 posts
 
I've got another sugestion; Goldring 1042. Anyone here who have this cartridge? How does it sound compared to Grado Gold?

The problem with better audiogear is the better they get, the worse most of the records sounds. And a few records sounds better and better.The question is, where to stop upgrading if you want to enjoy the music?

@chakster 
Just realized that XTZ is very expensive. Not worth upgrading my Grado Gold with a XTZ which costs aprox $475. 
But what about 8MZ. Will 8MZ make a noticeable difference?
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,183 posts
 
Hi Simna, this one is easy. The best $600 cartridge is the Goldring 1042.
It has one of the best styluses made, the Gyger S seen on cartridges like the $16,000.00 Clearaudio Goldfinger It is noticeably quieter than other styluses. I also think it has the kind of sound you want.
The AT VM760 is a good cartridge but I would go with the SLC not the SH. Soundsmith's inexpensive cartridges are OK but they are not as sophisticated. Same is true for Grado. Both lines do not hit their stride until you get to the $2000 mark. Stick with the Goldring. It will embarrass a lot of moving coil cartridges. 
More to discover