[Dan Driscoll]

The stock Goldring 1012GX cartridge on my MMF-5 TT has bit the dust. I eventually plan to put a ClearAudio Arum Beta or Beta S on this table, but they are well out of my price range for the time being. So I'm looking for a budget MM cartridge that sounds good and that would be worth keeping as a back-up, once I do have the money for the ClearAudio cart I want. For various reasons, I am not interested in re-tipping the Goldring.

The budget is an absolute max of $100 and if I can spend less without a significant difference in sound quality, that would be even better. My musical tastes run primarily to rock, but we also listen to jazz and classical, especially on vinyl. The preamp is the phono input of a Bryston 0.5B, the power amp is a Sherbourn 5/1500A and the speakers are Vandersteen Model 2C's. I do have the tools for installing and aligning a cartridge.l Here are some of the cartridges (along with estimated prices) that I've been considering:

Audio-Technica AT-440ML, $90
Audio-Technica AT-301EP, $43
Audio-Technica AT-95E, $45
Shure M97xE, $90
Grado Prestige Green, $60
Grado Prestige Blue, $80

On paper, the AT-440ML and the M97xE beat every other cart listed by a wide margin, but I haven't heard either one and likely won't, unless I buy them. Any comments and suggestions are welcome.

[dogberry]

My friend has the AT440 and it's a nice cart.   I've not heard the others.

[beat]

I think the ortofon line is pretty nice for the price. Look at needledoctor.com to check them out and let me know. A friend of mine hooks me up with ortofon stuff. I thought one time he offered me the om20 for 100 but dont quote me. I think the om10 is still a very nice cart and I could pass my savings on to you if you wish.
let me know, beat

[Tonto Yoder]

I think the ortofon line is pretty nice for the price. ....
let me know, beat

Isn't that the series that's upgradable by changing stylii?? i.e. same body, but more refined "needles" as one moves from 10 to 20 to 30??

[beat]

I believe so, tonto. It makes me wonder what goes on in the cart body. I am not sure though. I just wanted to let dan know I could hook him up if he would consider a higher dollar ortofon.

[TheChairGuy]

I've got the newest V15, but I've been told, on my old Thorens TD-316, I could've saved some dough and gone the 97HE route.

Unless you have a fine deck to play it on, the M97HE should work give you high-90's the performance for 1/3 the cost.  Don't expect any sweetening with the Shures....you get out what you put in.  I think I liked my old Grace F9 Ruby better, but I was probably listening to a lot of stuff that wasn't music with it (nice tho).  Actually, the 97HE may be a little less analytical as the cantilever is made of more conventional stuff (aluminum, I believe) that has sympathetic vibrations, et al.

I can't say for sure (shure   ?) as I have not heard the 97HE in action - just speculating a bit.

The V15 is made of super stiff, no additives please   ,  beryllium and it has a micro-ridge stylus.  The hyperelliptical needle of the 97HE should be easier to set up well with a less expensive MM5 deck / tonearm, ie, overall, more forgiving.

[Rocket]

Hi,

I had a shure m97 cartridge and thought it was pretty good for the price.  My friend now has my old turntable (acoustic research eb101) which has the shure cartridge installed.

I still like the sound.

regards

rocket

[doug s.]

sonically, i'm sure you'll be ok w/any of the ones talked about here.  personally, i like ortofon cartridges - hard to beat any of them at any price point.  

i'd look at stylus shape, & i'd rule out any that weren't fine-line, micro-ridge, etc.  these track so much better than the elliptical styli, & subject yer records to much less wear...

doug s.

[Dan Driscoll]

Beat, thanks for the offer on the Ortofon and also thanks to everyone else for their comments. I think I'm going to go with the A-T 440ML. It seems to have the best stylus (nude square shank microline) and some of the comments and reviews I've seen lead me to believe it probably has the best frequency response, also.

I've seen the 440ML several places on-line for $90-$95. If anyone knows where to find it for appreciably less or has a particular vendor they recommend, please let me know.  Thanks again.

[Dan Driscoll]

I pulled the trigger on the A-T 440ML. LP Gear had it on sale for $85 and everyone I know who has purchased from them said their service was OK.

Thanks again for the comments and suggestions.

Dan

[orthobiz]

Leave it to Mr. Michael Fremer to uncover a bargain Audio-Technica phono cartridge from Japan! After much difficulty, we found a source for this “diamond in the rough!” For only $49.99, this cartridge is quite a performer. While the AT95E isn’t going to dethrone any of the great cartridges in the $100-$300 range, this affordable piece is perfect for those of you who need to replace a worn cartridge on an older table or an affordable upgrade on an entry level table. It has an output of 3.5mV, an elliptical stylus and a recommended tracking force of 1.5 to 2.5 grams. We found a 2 gram setting to work great. As Mr. Fremer put it, the Audio-Technica AT95E “makes music for 50 bucks!”

biz

[orthobiz]

oh yeah,
quoted from amusicdirect.com

biz

[doug s.]

Leave it to Mr. Michael Fremer to uncover a bargain Audio-Technica phono cartridge from Japan! After much difficulty, we found a source for this “diamond in the rough!” For only $49.99, this cartridge is quite a performer. While the AT95E isn’t going to dethrone any of the great cartridges in the $100-$300 range, this affordable piece is perfect for those of you who need to replace a worn cartridge on an older table or an affordable upgrade on an entry level table. It has an output of 3.5mV, an elliptical s ...

much better to spend the extra $35 on the at-440ml, w/its fine-line stylus, imo....

ymmv,

doug s.