Best cartridge SME 3009MKII and technics SL120 TT

[herringboy]

Hi folks,
I am upgrading the cartridge on my SME 3009 MKII coupled with a techics SL120 deck (no arm version of the 1200). I usually run MM and was told a Dynavector DV - 10X5 high output MC would fit the bill. Another guy told me that most amps in my range, Pioneer a400x, Luxman 103 hybrid and Mordaunt Short 500s have lousy MC stages and suggested a wooden Grado but that is out of my price range which is $400AU (approx $320US). He also said that due to knife edge bearings in 3009 that MC is not suitable.

Any ideas? The Dynavector can run on MM due to high output.

So I am swimming in missinformation and confusion - anyone ther thow me a life line??
cheers
Carl

[EC8010]

A moving coil cartridge in the SME3009/S2 won't work well. Moving coils have low compliance and feed a lot of vibration into the arm, it makes the SME knife edges rattle and causes sounds like mistracking and lots of sibilance. Making a good MC stage costs money, so cheaper ones tend not to be very good. I doubt if the DV-10X5 would work well in your set-up.

You probably ought to stick to a moving magnet. I've used an Ortofon OM30 successfully in an SME3009/S2. You could also consider a Shure - the SME was designed for the Shure V15III.