Advice on new cartridge

[simonl8353]

Good news, I just bought a very very good home made valve power amp. Bad news, I now need help so I dont waste money on the wrong cartridge replacement. I know from experience this site will give a broad response and ideas to consider, so...

I have an Amber "a" cartridge (approx AUD$100 I guess) and feel its probably now the weak point in my set up of:

1. Rega Planar 3 Turntable with the upgrade Dynatec motor & Grace 707 Tonearm with Amber phono RCA's into..
2. NAD 3020 (pre-amp circuit) into..
3. 6BQ5 (EL84) valve power amp (10 watts) into..
4. Tannoy T185 Dorset Dual Concentric Speakers

So with all that and budget in mind, can the thinkers here give me some advice on the cartridge that will best suit this set up.

Also, I plan on making a tube pre-amp later on and moving away from the NAD as I think this is also a drain now on performance.

Thanks

 

[sreten]

Hi,

Importing an Audio Technica AT120E/T or AT440MLa is decent choice.
They can be found at various prices, ~ $60 and $100 respectively.
Some places they are a lot more.

http://www.garage-a-records.com/products.php?cat=90
AT120E/T
or
http://www.lpgear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=LG&Category_Code=A3
AT440MLa.

🙂/sreten.

 

[kevinkr]

I'd put that NAD 3020 on the list of items to upgrade as well. A good tube pre will sound a lot better.

Might also consider some of the less expensive Ortofons or Grados.

 

[d to the g]

Might also consider some of the less expensive Ortofons or Grados.

I'd be careful of the dread grado + rega hum.

I'm really a fan of the budget AT's though. The denon 110 is also a decent (and high output) performer in that budget.

 

[audio-logic]

hello

the grado prestige gold is nice but thats all

nothing special ,just good

but if you can affort it you could try the

grado reference platinum wood (mm)

i have had it myself and it,s a beautiful element for 300 euro !

good luck whith you,re choice

 

[kevinkr]

hello

the grado prestige gold is nice but thats all

nothing special ,just good

but if you can affort it you could try the

grado reference platinum wood (mm)

i have had it myself and it,s a beautiful element for 300 euro !

good luck whith you,re choice

I have a Grado Reference Platinum on my TT and it is quite a big upgrade from the Gold, at 300 euro though there may be other more cost effective choices. Here in the USA it costs $300 which is good value relative to the level of performance.

 

[WmAx]

What exactly constitutes 'decent'? The DL-110 by Denon was mentioned. This cartridge is measurably very flat, has low distortion and tracks excellently. It's what? Around $140 in the USA. I bought one of these, and heck, it does measure very well, just like the manufacturer claimed. I also happen to have a sealed in the box Clearaudio Virtuoso that is nearly a grand, but I have been wondering if I should just keep using the DL-110 and sell the Virtuoso, or break the seal and try the Virtuoso, or even buy another expensive cartridge in place of the Virtuosos(if a plausible reason can be given as to why it should have substantial better fidelity than the DL-110).

Let's say, given a $1000.00 budget for a cartridge, what can be improved audibly in terms of performance by any substantial degree with another cartridge vs. the $140 Denon DL-110?

BTW, let's assume the TT and tone arm are not limiting factors; I want to know the differences between the actual cartridge end.

Just curious(about what is real vs. psychological and how it affects my wallet).

I think this is on topic, as I am guessing the OP wants to know WHY he should spend a certain $$ and how it really pertains to true performance.

-Chris