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How Cartridges Fall Out Of Favor Over Time

I returned to analog in the late 1990's and early mid 2000's. Over time I have seen cartridge models, and even manufacturers fall out of favor and others rise or be even begin. 

As I think about it, these models have lost favor in the eyes of vinylophiles. At one time they were the cats meow. 

Dynavector 10x5 and 17D2 or 3 Karat

Benz Micro Ace and Glider

Audio Technica oc9 II

Sumiko Blackbird and Bluepoint Evo III

ZYX cartridges such as the Bloom and the Airy

Grado wood bodies

These are just the ones I can remember without digging too deep. Some cartridges have model replacements or have been discontinued. Others are still there but just forgotten. 

I just bought a Blackbird Lo for a casual use cartridge, I also keep a Glider H2 for those duties also. My next new cartridge purchase is planned on being an Audio Technica ART20. I just wonder how it compares to my older high tier cartridges, as I play a Transfiguration Audio Proteus that has been serviced by VAS and a Kiseki OG Blackheart serviced by AllClear. 

neonknight
pindac's avatar
pindac
3,825 posts
 

@dogberry I was invited by the designer of the Tonearm I use, to be demo'd a change made to the bearing interface for the Tonearm I use.

The 'Kc' had been demo'd alongside 'Kb's in their different designs and the PW windfeld on a few previous occasions, and on this visit it was the first of the Cart's to be used as the demo' of the changes influence on the End Sound perception.

Neither my 'Kb' with Ogura Stylus or the Windfeld got a look in, the 'Kc' was just so fitting for the role.

My friend has now accumulated a decent collection of the 'K' range and a few of Cadenza range, along with the Windfeld, there is a few interesting developments which may become mod's for other Ortofon Cart's but also extend to Cart's compatible with the design to be used.  

richardbrand's avatar
richardbrand
1,362 posts
 

And now for something (almost) completely new - optical cartridges as realised by DS Audio.

These overcome the low output of LOMC designs while simultaneously reducing apparent tip mass even further.  Far better signal to noise ratios and better trackability at the same time.  Try outputs of 70-millivolts versus 5 for MM and low fractions of a millivolt for LOMC.

Unfortunately, DS Audio's optical cartridges require non-standard phono stages because their output is position dependent, not velocity dependent.  Several manufacturers have obliged so far ...

theophile's avatar
theophile
405 posts
 

Strain Gauge anyone?

pcolvin
29 posts
 

@mylogic believe it or not but even after cancelling the V15 line here in the states Shure continued to make them and sell in Japan up until a couple of years ago. You can still buy a V15 III for $800 on eBay today.  Add a Jico VN35HE SAS stylus and you’ve still got a killer mm cartridge. 

sokogear
1,160 posts
 

VDH for me. I want the truth. I never touched bass or treble knobs when my first receiver had them or touch them in my car. No tubes. Clean, fast and detailed with good tight, deep bass.

Also, they have the longest lasting styli, which makes the value conscious audiophile (which of course is an oxymoron) in me happy. I don't change equipment  very often at all anymore, and don't play around with things, so no mono cartridges for me. I set it to sound the best I can and forget it and just sit back and enjoy the music.

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