Some help please with Cartridge choices
I currently am using a Van den Hul Crimson, which I really like, with my Nottingham table. I am likely going to get it retipped and then use as a back up. My dealer has recommended My sonic labs as a good upgrade, but they seem to be unobtanium currently. He floated the Hana Umami black as an alternative, as well as Koetsu and Air tight. I prefer a musical and less analytical sound, more rounded than sharp edges. The Hana is in the budget and available. Any thoughts? Thanks.
AT125LC Cartridge Body $59. free shipping, in usa thus no tarriff $229. gets new MicroLine on Boron There you have current production Microline on Boron, tracking at ? for around $300. Original stylus tracked at nominal 1.4g, new boron, ____? I’d like to hear it. OP, sorry to take your thread into the bargain basement, but once these things pop up, I feel someone who needs it ought to know. |
@yoyoyaya The Nottingham arm is designed with the table in mind. The wires are uninterrupted from headshell (not interchangeable) to their built in cable. Larry from Hollywood sound discouraged me from changing arms, saying in his experience it's not worth it- so perhaps a down side to the table. My phono pre is built into the VAC Master preamp and is pretty solid. The turntable is the only product not purchased from Mike, and he seems to think it blends well with the rest of the system, so I'm disinclined to make turntable changes at this time. It's hard to A/B turntables in your own system. I wonder how others go about that process. |
@OP I just wrote a lengthy reply which the system then did a 404 error and lost. So I'll just cut to the chase on preamp / cartridge compatibility. Your VAC preamp's 68dB of MC gain is marginal for a 0.3mv output cartridge viz. the Black. It could sound a bit flat dynamically and / or noisy. So you would need to audition to know. Re the Turntable, if it were me, I would look at improving it before looking at a better cartridge than the Crimson. If you send your Crimson back to VdH, it will come back "as new", not just with the tip changed. |
@yoyoyaya Jeez, I hate it when that happens! Thanks for the effort, though. I don't disagree with the turntable advice. It's a complicated CFO (wife) issue. Every system upgrade requires a complex well thought out battle plan. She understands the concept of wear on a stylus and the need for refurbishment. I got the green light! To her, the turntable is perfectly fine the way it is. Over the years I have left a few comments about it being the"weak link" in system, etc. Before every upgrade I progressively plead my case that the upgrade will improve the listening experience. Every time I am met with "It already sounds great, I can't imagine it being any better". I am nearing 1500 hours on the Van den Hul and I suspect it will be 3-5 months before I get it back, so the Cart is the current easy sell. The turntable will be the next frontier. Probably too much info, but I think you can see my logic. Also, I queried the internet with AI-wow, what a trove of info. You were right on with the thoughts on gain and the winner on that front is the MSL for sure. With tonearm matching, both were good, the nod going to the Black, but not by much. For total system synergy with the VAC Master and Sig 200's, it seems that the MSL is in the #1 spot. For now. Stay tuned for future developments. |
I think at least one previous post mentioned Lyra. Curious if the OP has heard their cartridges and doesn’t resonate with the sound profile? I rather like them at least the Etna and Atlas cartridges I’ve heard on SME tables. You could get the Lyra Etna SL Lamba MC for the same price as Hana Umami Black. If you have a good step up stage, it seems that would be another good option if it’s a match for your tonearm. kn |
