A second arm for my table, some cartridge options.

flez007

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Aug 31, 2010
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I am thinking to get a second arm for my Luxman PD555 turntable (I already have a Scheu arm and a Mantis MC cartridge) so I thought that an MM cartridge could be a good idea to consider.

The arm in question could be a Jelco 12 incher, I was looking for some recommendations for MM options (Audiotechnica, Supex or Ariston are already in the list).
 

rockitman

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Sep 20, 2011
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I am thinking to get a second arm for my Luxman PD555 turntable (I already have a Scheu arm and a Mantis MC cartridge) so I thought that an MM cartridge could be a good idea to consider.

The arm in question could be a Jelco 12 incher, I was looking for some recommendations for MM options (Audiotechnica, Supex or Ariston are already in the list).

There's a long winding thread on MM carts over on Audiogon. I bet you would get some answers there. I only have MC carts so I can't render any opinions.
 

puroagave

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early last year i needed to get my beater roksan xerxes/rega rb300 running and asked several people whos ears i trust and the goldring 2500 came up a few times. good advice as it is superb...bass slam and dynamics that you dont get with a MC. doesnt have the nth degree of detail and air like a great MC but the backgrounds are so delightfully quiet and dare i say CD-like. for a phono stage I used the chinese knock-off of curl's vendetta and the noise floor at full volume shames any high-gain phono amps ive owned.
 

MylesBAstor

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Apr 20, 2010
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early last year i needed to get my beater roksan xerxes/rega rb300 running and asked several people whos ears i trust and the goldring 2500 came up a few times. good advice as it is superb...bass slam and dynamics that you dont get with a MC. doesnt have the nth degree of detail and air like a great MC but the backgrounds are so delightfully quiet and dare i say CD-like. for a phono stage I used the chinese knock-off of curl's vendetta and the noise floor at full volume shames any high-gain phono amps ive owned.

I'd also check out the Soundsmith cartridges.

BTW, I think the MCs not having bass slam and dynamics (I'll compare it to tape) is a myth and a product of the days where phono sections didn't have enough gain. Not only that -- so much of dynamics and bass are traceable to the arm and table! Also, don't go mistaking overblown bass for slam :)
 

Mosin

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Mar 11, 2012
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I think the 12" Artemis Labs tonearm that Frank Schroeder designed sounds very good. If I remember correctly, it runs around $3,500.
 

flez007

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There's a long winding thread on MM carts over on Audiogon. I bet you would get some answers there. I only have MC carts so I can't render any opinions.

yeap, I know Raul pretty well, that thread has almost 5 years old and is un-readable now (many posts, opinions, etc..) - he recommended me the three options I started with, thanks!
 

flez007

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Aug 31, 2010
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Mexico City
early last year i needed to get my beater roksan xerxes/rega rb300 running and asked several people whos ears i trust and the goldring 2500 came up a few times. good advice as it is superb...bass slam and dynamics that you dont get with a MC. doesnt have the nth degree of detail and air like a great MC but the backgrounds are so delightfully quiet and dare i say CD-like. for a phono stage I used the chinese knock-off of curl's vendetta and the noise floor at full volume shames any high-gain phono amps ive owned.

Agreed, Goldring is great. I just added it - thanks!
 

flez007

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Aug 31, 2010
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Mexico City
I'd also check out the Soundsmith cartridges.

BTW, I think the MCs not having bass slam and dynamics (I'll compare it to tape) is a myth and a product of the days where phono sections didn't have enough gain. Not only that -- so much of dynamics and bass are traceable to the arm and table! Also, don't go mistaking overblown bass for slam :)

Soundsmith added (actually I use to spend at his show room some after-hours to chat at RMAF) thanks! (we always end up talking about Bozak history) :)
 

audioarcher

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May 6, 2012
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In that price range the Jelco is a good bet. A Fidelity Research FR-64s would be another to consider if you can find one cheap enough.

I like the 12" Reed 2A but it would be above your price range used.
 

puroagave

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Sep 29, 2011
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I'd also check out the Soundsmith cartridges.

BTW, I think the MCs not having bass slam and dynamics (I'll compare it to tape) is a myth and a product of the days where phono sections didn't have enough gain. Not only that -- so much of dynamics and bass are traceable to the arm and table! Also, don't go mistaking overblown bass for slam :)

if a myth i probably read it in TAS ;) and you're absolutley right a lot has to do with arm/table compatibilty. it doesnt hurt that a MM output is 6mv, also perfect for running into my marantz 7 phono stage clone. everyone has their favorite test Lp they use when they tweak or setup a 'table, mines the MFSL of little feats waiting for columbus with the goldring mounted in the rega arm on a xerxes 'table the sound was pretty f'n good!
 
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