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new cartridge advice

174.7.33.64
Posted on November 4, 2009 at 21:23:52
j0i
Audiophile

Posts: 5
Joined: October 23, 2009
 Hey, I'm looking to buy a new cartridge. I live in Vancouver B.C and beat street is the only place i know that sells.
http://www.beatstreet.ca/
I'm not into scratching I just want to listen to the music. Are any of these great or should I look for needles that aren't made for djs?
Thanks for the advice in advance. Appreciate it!

RE: new cartridge advice, posted on November 5, 2009 at 16:11:42
CBT
Audiophile

Posts: 366
Location: West Coast
Joined: September 9, 2005
 Commercial Electronics carry Ortofon if 2M interests you.

Theo

-- Is it the same old place or the old same place? --
'Some really quite empty music...", posted on November 5, 2009 at 14:54:07
Marc Bratton
Audiophile

Posts: 4582
Joined: June 15, 2000
 I'm not sure exactly what the OP means by this, but that is really a GREAT description.

RE: new cartridge advice, posted on November 5, 2009 at 10:46:36
DMW
Distributor or Rep

Posts: 319
Location: Midwest USA
Joined: July 26, 2003
 See listed link.

RE: new cartridge advice, posted on November 5, 2009 at 06:43:10
judicata
Audiophile

Posts: 98
Location: NYC
Joined: January 26, 2009
 If you're looking for a decent all-around cartridge you can mount to your TT and go, the carts jrtrent recommended are great.

There are other options if you want to spend a bunch of money and try to squeeze out every last drop of sound quality. But those Shures track very well and produce good sound. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about high-end cartridges (I have an Ortofon 2M Black, and there are carts even far more expensive that that). It just doesn't sound like that's what you're looking for.

RE: new cartridge advice, posted on November 5, 2009 at 06:08:30
jrtrent
Audiophile

Posts: 645
Joined: September 1, 2001
 I don't know Vancouver at all, but a quick Google search turned up at least a couple of other stores to try, Signature Audio and Hi-Fi Centre. Both the Shure M44G and M97xE available at Beat Street are fine for music listening, and even the DJ cartridges can make good sound--depending on the record player you chose, a heavier-tracking DJ model could even be the best choice. More information about what you're using would help.

Shure vs. Pickering/Stanton....again..., posted on November 5, 2009 at 16:16:50
Interstage Tranny
Audiophile

Posts: 1408
Location: Eastern
Joined: October 4, 2006
 How about the Ortofon cartridge family ? DJ carts have robust styli assemblies. This can be good for reliability but might not yield the best sound obtainable. For example, the very forgiving sound of a vintage Pickering V15 with original stylus tends to sound much smoother than a Stanton 500 with a 500DJ stylus. With average condition and scratchy discs, anyone would prefer the softer V15. Pickering XV15/750E or XV15/1200E and Stanton 681EEE should be among the classic choices...

You might want to list some of your sonic preferences and gear to be used. That way, we can recommend easier...

Nagaoka MP11, posted on November 5, 2009 at 03:08:54
Backbeat1954A
 Nice mids good bass shocked me as to how good it sounded for the price. Try LP Gear they sell them

agree this excellent for the money but..., posted on November 5, 2009 at 05:42:33
hukkfinn
Audiophile

Posts: 2835
Location: East Coast
Joined: July 19, 2002
 ....we'd make better recommendations if we knew the original poster's price range and what kinds of music he or she listens to. Also what are the OP's sonic preferences -- great rhythm? Great bass? Soundstage? Mids, voices, violins? Needs a cart that will track even trashed LPs?
Hukk
need to know your table / arm / budget to provide meaningful advice (nt), posted on November 4, 2009 at 22:38:03
troporobo
Audiophile

Posts: 1386
Location: Manila
Joined: June 6, 2003

RE: new cartridge advice, posted on November 4, 2009 at 22:36:42
AudioTrip
Audiophile

Posts: 23
Joined: October 24, 2009
 I recommend you look and buy on-line, perhaps "Needle Doctor" or other sites use Google.

RE: new cartridge advice, posted on November 5, 2009 at 14:06:33
j0i
Audiophile

Posts: 5
Joined: October 23, 2009
 Sorry no specs to the weekend. I have people digging me out an older record player from some dark corner. Thanks for the help though! All I can say is that I'm into many many genres of music, some bass heavy, some more focused on the highs, and some really quite empty music.
I'll post some other time when I have all my equipment.

You're all set!, posted on November 5, 2009 at 19:53:26
hesson11
Audiophile

Posts: 623
Location: Florida
Joined: December 8, 2005
 With no turntable and no cartridge, it sounds like you've got everything you need to play the "quite empty music". :-)

Seriously, in most cases, it's pretty important to carefully match a cartridge to the tonearm and preamp it's going to be mated with. So to some extent, any recommendations we can make are something of a crap shoot until we know more. Keep us posted.

-Bob

RE: new cartridge advice, posted on November 5, 2009 at 14:40:58
Animal Chin
Audiophile

Posts: 34
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Joined: April 26, 2009
 Signature Audio on Cambie is worth checking out. They have quite a few set-ups, cartridges. I had both my turntables set up there. Stuff's not cheap there though.

If I were you though, with the dollar the way it is, I'd find the best price possible online on a cartridge and get it sent to Point Roberts, WA (google "the Letter Carrier") and pick it up there.

Cartridges I considered were:

Denon DL 160
Dynavector 10X5
ZU-103

I finally settled on an AT150MLX. I"m fairly new to all this so take my suggestions for what it's worth. If I hadn't bought my AT150mlx, I'd seriously consider saving some money and going for one of those Nagoaka MP11 suggested by another poster.

I also have a Rega Planar 2 sitting around if you're interested. I'm in Kits.

RE: new cartridge advice, posted on November 5, 2009 at 14:57:41
Animal Chin
Audiophile

Posts: 34
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Joined: April 26, 2009
 PS: Signature Audio is really the only "Hi-FI" shop in Vancouver. The dude is really nice. Don't even bother with Commercial electronics or the other shops. They're mostly into home theater.

If I were you, I'd get really familiar with Audiogon for purchases, Point Roberts for pickup, and this site for research (people here seem a lot nicer).

I've had 3 power amps, 2 preamps, 2 turntables, etc in the last year or two and have not lost money yet on buying and selling used equipment. Everything came well packaged, as described, excellent transactions (knock on wood).

Also, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're thinking of using older/vintage/hand me down integrated amps with built in phonostages you're probably going to be looking at MM cartridges or HOMC like the Denon DL160. If you do get the Nagoaka, let me know.. haha.

Kinda sad when............., posted on November 5, 2009 at 15:17:15
vinylkid58
Audiophile

Posts: 413
Location: West Coast
Joined: April 23, 2003
 there is only ONE "Hi-Fi" shop in a city the size of Van.

Jeff

RE: Kinda sad when............., posted on November 5, 2009 at 16:08:18
CBT
Audiophile

Posts: 366
Location: West Coast
Joined: September 9, 2005
 Yes indeed there aren't many left in Vancouver. Signature Audio remains the only game in town for high end audio. Sound Plus used to be the place to be back in the old days but it has moved on to home theatre and mid-fi digital and eventually closed shop for good. Hi-Fi Centre, another mid-fi store, maybe the only place in town you can order an LP-12 but I don't see one in the store when I was there last time.

Theo

-- Is it the same old place or the old same place? --

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