I'm looking for either....
A new stylus for my current Ortofon 2M Bronze. (The Black stylus fits),
A new Denon DL 103,
Or I've just see a Denon DL 103R for a similar price.
Turntable is a Project 1 Xpression with carbon arm and my phono stage is a Cambridge Audio Alva Duo so MM/MC.
I know carts have been covered lots but I just want to know if there's anything else I should be looking at for around £450? Or if not, what would be the best of the 3 I've mentioned.
Any advice appreciated.. And Merry Christmas!
A new stylus for my current Ortofon 2M Bronze. (The Black stylus fits),
A new Denon DL 103,
Or I've just see a Denon DL 103R for a similar price.
Turntable is a Project 1 Xpression with carbon arm and my phono stage is a Cambridge Audio Alva Duo so MM/MC.
I know carts have been covered lots but I just want to know if there's anything else I should be looking at for around £450? Or if not, what would be the best of the 3 I've mentioned.
Any advice appreciated.. And Merry Christmas!
Denon DL-103/103R not suited to your light carbon arm at all. Low compliance cartridges.
Audio Technica AT33PTG/II would be a better choice for LOMC. IMHO, a better sounding cartridge vs the Denon. € 461.34 at Thakker in Germany.
2M Bronze should work fine for MM.
jeff
Audio Technica AT33PTG/II would be a better choice for LOMC. IMHO, a better sounding cartridge vs the Denon. € 461.34 at Thakker in Germany.
2M Bronze should work fine for MM.
jeff
Thanks Jeff.
I bought my first cart from Thakker, a Denon DL 160. It was for the same tt. 😊
I'll look at the AT 33.... Looks like a nice cart.
I'll admit I don't know anything about arm compliance etc, I'm glad you've put me right on that.
I bought my first cart from Thakker, a Denon DL 160. It was for the same tt. 😊
I'll look at the AT 33.... Looks like a nice cart.
I'll admit I don't know anything about arm compliance etc, I'm glad you've put me right on that.
Black stylus is the way for you to go, there's sure a reason why the table is being shipped with 2M cartridge.
I wouldn't recommend putting anything MC on it. For example the AT33PTG/II mentioned above has cca half the dynamic compliance than 2M while being 0.3g lighter. IMHO not a good replacement on that arm.
If you really want to try something else, maybe Grado Prestige Gold would be worth investigating. But the sophisticated stylus profile like with the 2M Black won't be there.
I wouldn't recommend putting anything MC on it. For example the AT33PTG/II mentioned above has cca half the dynamic compliance than 2M while being 0.3g lighter. IMHO not a good replacement on that arm.
If you really want to try something else, maybe Grado Prestige Gold would be worth investigating. But the sophisticated stylus profile like with the 2M Black won't be there.
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Hi, thanks for the reply.
The tt was actually shipped with a 510 mk2.
That quickly got changed for the Denon DL 160 I mentioned earlier.
When that wore out, I went to the 2M series, started with the red but quickly realised I'd made a mistake so bought a bronze, which takes us up to today..
I'm confused now because your advice contradicts Jeff's above 🙁
AFAIK the 510mk II is very similar to the Red, parameters wise. Jeff is right, but forgot to consider reduced dynamic compliance of the AT, which is key parameter for you.
After all, the best "bang for the buck" combo on a light arm was the OM body with Analogis Black Diamond stylus. Did basically all I needed. But of course incomparable to the Black Stylus. Being it OM, 2M or 5xx, I always considered those as basically interchangeable
Give a look here to calculate the correct compliance of the cartridge for your tone arm:
https://korfaudio.com/calculator
https://korfaudio.com/calculator
I think I'll go with my first instinct and replace the stylus with a 2M black.
I can't cope with tonearm compliance etc..
I just want to enjoy the music.
Thanks again.
I can't cope with tonearm compliance etc..
I just want to enjoy the music.
Thanks again.