Really good, inexpensive moving magnet cartridges - Celebrating "good enough" components
I have a main listening room, in which I keep my best turntable, tonearms and cartridges. Right now, the two I use most are an Ortofon Synergy G SPU, and a Koetsu Black Goldline. I know there are better cartridges than these, but they both suit me very well. Similar, but different.
But I also have three other set ups around the house - one in the living room for all guests to use and hear. One down in the exercise room, to keep me from wanting to give up as I rehab the latest injury. And one in my chemical darkroom, to keep me company in the dark.
In the Living room, I have a Funk Firm Vector V turntable, with a LP Gear "The Vessel," with its entry level stylus. In the exercise room is an old (but modified) Rega Planar 2 (the one with the wooden boundary on the plinth). On that one, I use a Sumiko Pearl. And last, in the darkroom, I have a NAD 5120 which originally came with that famous flat tonearm. On that, I have a Grado Black.
What I'm surprised at is that at an average price of about $100, these devices have intelligent compromises that allow them to express music in an enjoyable way. In the setting where they do their thing, each is perfectly acceptable - I never find myself wishing for more. It might be that I'm distracted by other things - I'm socializing, or working out, or printing photographs. In my main listening room, I just listen.
Do you have other cartridges that are inexpensive, but do the job? Do you have other music making components that are satisfying, despite being far, far from state of the art?
