[Don_S]

Considering a VPI Prime. Dealer recommends Ortofon 2M Red vs Blue or Bronze.  Any experience with these cartridges?  Especially appreciated if the experience is on a VPI TT.

[twitch54]

No experience with either of those but a long time VPI guy here (Aries III) and a long time Benz Micro guy as well

[RezIndie]

You have to try the Hana SL - it is UNREAL. It blows away carts at 2x the cost.

[rotarius]

I can tell you from experience, the Ortofon Quintets are a big step up from the 2M series.  The Quintet red is better than the 2m blue and Quintet blue is better than the 2M bronze.  Don't know about the Black though.  Are you looking at high output carts only?

[Escott1377]

I have a Soundsmith Voice on a VPI Classic.  I remember seeing where VPI recommends Peter's cartridges w/ their tables.

[Don_S]

I can tell you from experience, the Ortofon Quintets are a big step up from the 2M series.  The Quintet red is better than the 2m blue and Quintet blue is better than the 2M bronze.  Don't know about the Black though.  Are you looking at high output carts only?

Phono stage is MM or high-output MC.  I think it is safer to stick with MM (e.g. Ortofon 2M vs Quintet).

[Nick77]

I can tell you from experience, the Ortofon Quintets are a big step up from the 2M series.  The Quintet red is better than the 2m blue and Quintet blue is better than the 2M bronze.  Don't know about the Black though.  Are you looking at high output carts only?

+1     

[johnto]

VPI Aries Scout owner here currently using Soundsmith Carmen II fantastic sound. I did have to add more weight to the headshell but it's available on eBay for about $5.00. Also used a Sumike Bluepoint Evo 3 with great results.

[who?me?]

I have a VPI Scoutmaster II, and I first started out with a 2M Black,
then moved up to the ladder to a Quintet Black, which is excellent.

Since the Prime is a $4000 turntable,
it will reward you most with a comparable quality of cartridge, such as MC.

You mean the Prime, right?? Not the Scout??
No one in their right audiophile mind would put a
MM 2M Red cartridge on a $4000 TT.

[Don_S]

Yes, Prime. 

[BobM]

The cartridge and phono stage have to be compatible. If you have a $500 phono stage that only accepts moving magnet type output, then there's where you have to look. So a $500 phono stage means a $500 cartridge, for the most part. If your phono can deal with low output moving coils, or if you are willing to get a transformer or head amp, then that's a better option, but also more expensive.

Basically, it's a budget thing. Get the best you can afford, because the more $ you throw at analogue the better it gets.