What turntables and cartridges would you recommend I consider to set up a player dedicated to 78 RPM records?
- key consideration is to "do no harm"; to not cause (further) damage to the record by playing it
- would like to stay under CDN$500, if possible
- new or used; wiling to be patient and keep my eye out for a good value in a used player
thanks!
Audio-technica web site includes, " Please note that a 78 RPM stylus with a diameter of 3 mil is necessary for shellac records (pre-1958) and a stylus with a diameter of .6 mil is designed for 78 RPM vinyl records."
OP doesn't include all his budget needs to cover. e.g. turntable, tonearm, cartridge, non-RIAA phono stage. Caveat notwithstanding, a nice used Rega 78 may meet your criteria. Canadian importer displays new price as $975.00 (unspecified currency but since they're Canadian importer....)
A quick perusal finds several inexpensive 78 RPM cartridges:
Audio-technica (vinyl) AT-VM95C $39.00; (shellac) AT-VM95SP $79.00, VM670SP$149.00 new.
Grado makes 78 RPM cartridges for US $100.
Ortofon 2M 78RPM MM Phono Cartridge $138.00.
Shure M78S phono cartridge $129.00.
Caveat. I have no personal experience w/any of the above. I do have a c.'78 Rega planar 2 & several similar vintage Grado cartridges. None have been used in decades. As always, YMMV.
Hope this helps,
/mp