1. Home
  2. analog
  3. 193913-3976

High Performance Moving Iron Cartridge Candidates?

I have decided to simplify my analog set up a bit. removed the fussy cartridges and SUT's, and am down to one external phono stage, and the internal one in my Trinov preamp. 

 

The Trinov preamp is MM only, and I don;t want to use a step up or headamp with it. So that means high output moving coil or a MM type cartridge. 

I read on these boards that a MI cartridge can have lower moving mass than a moving coil I would like to experiment. 

What are the viable candidates these days? I imagine most vintage ones do not have OEM styli available still. The Soundsmith ones are interesting, but get very spendy. This is meant to be a casual cartridge for me, but I will spend some money on it. Just not Air Tight or Koetsu money.  

What are other choices? Not typically fond of Grado I heard in the past. Otherwise I think Nagaoka is the only other one I know of?

neonknight
dogberry
964 posts
 

Three candidates:

1. Nagaoka MP-500 (3mV output), perhaps the best in terms of quality/price

2. London Decca Reference (5mV), more expensive but stunning liveliness.

3. Soundsmith The Voice (2.12mV). Now I haven't heard this, but it's the best of their high output MI cartridges, unless you special order a Helios at the same price as a Hyperion. I do have a Sussurro and a Hyperion, and I'm delighted with them.

nwres's avatar
nwres
287 posts
 

+1 Nagaoka MP-500. Rivals lots of spendy MC carts. Great tone, airy highs.

Also the Nagaoka JT-80BK Anniversary cart is very nice and a sleeper at it's price IME, nude elliptical and the boron cantilever. Smooth beautiful sound.

knotscott's avatar
knotscott
1,392 posts
 

+2 Nagoaka MP500

billstevenson
1,210 posts
 

Among a slew of cartridges my long time favorite has been a SoundSmith Hyperion, but mine is low output and I use an SUT that cost as much as it did.  Not to mention two sets of interconnects.  I don't think that is what you want.  I also often turn to the Ortofon 2M cartridges for older acoustic jazz as they have the synergy I am looking for, particularly their 2M Mono SE which is available but maybe out of the EU only.  I prefer the sound and balance of it on old jazz records to even a much more expensive Myajima Zero.

nrenter's avatar
nrenter
768 posts
 

As casually mentioned above, a Soundsmith cartridge can be rebuilt to as-new status for a small fraction of the entry fee. I’ve had mine for over 10 years. Rebuilt once. Sent in a second time and it was returned with a note stating all it required was a good internal cleaning. When it comes to higher end cartridges (that have a useful lifespan) I want to use it freely without financial worry. 
 

Even better, find yourself a bargain on a used Soundsmith cartridge and pay the fractional fee to have it rebuilt to as-new status.
 

The Voice is a great option. Don’t rule out the Aida. I have no desire to upgrade. 

More to discover