[neobop]

Hold on a minute.  Did you see that's a kit?  You get the box and the board with the J fets already mounted.  If you click on the link you'll see the manual and the parts list with Digikey parts numbers.  I thought it might be right up your alley, but you supply the rest of the parts, and probably the batteries.   

I never used to buy used carts, especially MCs w/o user replaceable stylus.  But the last couple I got off Agon were good.  People tend to be optimistic with their descriptions.  Try to find out how old it is and what stylus it has.  I believe the newer Benz have a Gyger S and the older - more primitive Gygers. 
I kind of felt responsible when your 770 arrived partially broken even though it was advertised as completely cool.   Let me take another look at those listings.  I did see a Blackbird from that re-tipper in Washington (pretty sure).  It has the original cantilever and new stylus.  I'll take another look at the listings.
neo

[neobop]

The Benz says it has an elliptical stylus??   There's another one, might be newer:
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/cartridges-benz-micro-wood-l2-mc-cartridge-in-mint-condition-2013-07-18-analog-77027

Here's a review from 2001:
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0901/benzmicrol2.htm

I'm not sure what's going on with the Blackbird.  It's not the re-tipper but the ad says it has the orig cantilever and an upgraded stylus from him.  This is HO, if you don't get the head amp.  Mr Pig has one for sale here, but I thought it said replaced cantilever.
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/cartridges-sumiko-blackbird-fresh-rebuild-0-hours-high-performance-modest-price-2013-07-17-analog-99320

neo

[JackD]

I agree with Neo about buying used MC cartridges unless you buy from someone you know.  If you are willing to get up to the $700 level you would be better off trying to find a deal on the Clearaudio Concept, Dynavector 20X2 or the Denon DL-S1.  If you just want a holding place and you have no cartridge for the Kenwood until you can think this through, I have a NIB DL-110 that I will probably never use that I will let you have for what I have in it.  I already have one with less than 100hrs that I don't use so I don't need this one.
I still think you need to consider the Vista as you already have two levels of tubes after the phono stage it will probably not even be noticeable. Then your choices will be limitless. Again just my opinion. 

[JackD]

As to Mister Pig's Sumiko Blackbird, the ad says that Andy fitted a new HE stylus to the original boron cantilever.

[tomytoons]

Jack I agree the Decware is limited to a narrower choice of cartridges. Steve also makes the stepup. His and many others philosophy to keep things separate.
I also did not want to say a Vista is a problem solver and would really give the Zen a run for the money.
I Don't want to get accused of anything again.

I myself would not spend that kind of money up front and being relatively new to vinyl.
I don't think you need to do that and be satisfied. My opinion and remember I'm cheap.

Yes be careful with the used MC's  too.

[JackD]

Den

Obviously you and I agree on a lot of things vinyl and I only know what I hear after almost 40 years using the medium.  I have used all tube setups, all SS setups and a combination of the two, so I don't really have a bias.  In the Florida heat, I use tubes in the Winter and SS in the summer so I have to adjust things when I change over.  In my setups the Vista is kind of a chameleon and just does it's job without imparting a signature of it's own in either setup. Plus you have the benefit of infinite loading and gain settings limited only by if you want to spend the less than $3 for a pair of resistors to get you where you want to be. If you are going to spend the money for a 1/2 kit plus parts to finish a SS step up device you could just substitute the completed Vista and be done.  If Maritan likes the sound of the DL-110, I would just get another one for now and plan the next move methodically before just jumping into the LOMC pool blindly. Also if he likes the DL-110 at 47k, then he would probably like the sound of the AT-0C9 Mk II.  I didn't like the Dl-110 until the loading was down to at least 16k.

[tomytoons]

I did not like the AT OC9ML/II on the EE Mini Max Phono was not nuts about the Glider on it either.
AND that was at 100 ohms MC setting standard on that piece the same 100 ohms I'm running now on the Vista. The EE was short on gain and no settings. $1500 vs $300. Go figure I sold it 18 months later.
It's all about getting lucky hitting the wow factor, it's not always the $$ involved.
I value common folk personal experience much more than Pro Reviews.

Another suggestion would be the Ortofon 2M Black many people like eliminating any decisions needed to be made on the MC side of things. I have not heard one. I don't like the price of it and I think you can do just as well with a cheaper HO MC.

[neobop]

Maybe we should wait for Maritan's thoughts on all this.  I think he knows his way around a soldering iron and perhaps he realized Piccolo is a kit.  I don't think the parts are expensive and if you can DIY it still looks like a bargain.

The Blackbird situation is confusing.  The one on Agon has a new HE tip on the orig boron cantilever.  Mr Pig says, "the cantilever is now functionally perfect/replaced....which it is"  To me this means the cantilever was replaced.  With what, we don't know.  Maybe these are different sellers and/or different Blackbirds?

Making two changes at once can be problematic to say the least.  Tomytunes makes a good point about combinations of components and final results. 
I think Maritan is looking for something better than his 110.  Pickins are slim right now for used carts and new is preferred anyway.....

Maritan, sorry to talk about you in the third person, but at this point we're putting the cart before the horse. 
neo
 

[JackD]

Agree Neo, looks like a solution if he wants the DIY and ultimately it is up to him as we are just contemplating out loud for him. Would let him keep everything else in place as is.

[Maritan]

Sorry guys. Been a busy few hours. There's a few things I need to address.

Yes, I do realize the Piccolo is a DIY project that requires buying a half kit or fully assembled version. I do have a soldering station and I can solder things. I was elbow deep in a soldering project of sorts for the last couple weeks. Something like this shouldn't make me lose sleep.

As you guys have already figured out, I have a Decware ZP3 and I'm sure the $300 Vista will give the ZP3 a run for its money. But, I like the ZP3. A lot. I would prefer to keep it instead of replacing the ZP3. If I was just getting into vinyl and didn't have the ZP3 I would buy the Vista. As it stands, the Piccolo should come in less than the Vista especially since I have a way to order from Digikey with a substantial discount.

I have obviously heard the DL110. I loaded it only at 47k (stock loading), so maybe I wasn't getting all that I could out of it. It was good, but it was missing something. But, I am able and willing to spend some money on a better set up right now. I don't want to or like throwing money around, but sometimes you definitely do get what you pay for and in this case, I'm willing to spend some money on the head amp and a good cartridge. Neo is absolutely right - I want something that's better than the DL110.

Neo - as far as your suggestions - the Benz L2 seems good. I've contacted the seller but haven't heard back yet. I'm a little nervous about the Blackbird for two reasons - 1. Even you aren't sure exactly what was done to revitalize the cart, and 2. It's a nude cart. I'm not sure I'm ready to handle and set up a cart that could potentially be very easy to "hurt". Am I just being paranoid? I'm going to give the Benz L0.4 a pass. The Dynavector unfortunately is sold.

JackD and Neo - thank you both for your offers to help me out with carts. If I can't find a cart in the next few weeks, I'll be sure to get in touch with one of you.

Have I addressed all the salient issues and cleared up whatever needed clearing up?

[Maritan]

I wanted to address one more thing - Neo, you were and are not responsible for whatever was broken with the 770. That responsibility was the seller's alone. He made it right in my opinion. I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but I was able to figure out what was broken and now the up/ down button and the auto stop/ lift works. And I enjoyed some excellent music on it while the 110 was alive. I can't wait to get a cart that's even better on it and resume my vinyl playback.

No rush at all. I will be patient and re-assemble my vinyl rig. I have CDs in the meantime. 

[JackD]

Maritan

Sounds like an excellent solution for someone with DIY skill like yourself.  Don't know if you saw the thread in the Hagerman Circle for the announcement for getting the kit back in stock.  In that thread someone asks him to identify the upgraded capacitors and resistors he uses in the assembled version and he does.  The parts are I guess different that the ones in the Digikey list for the kits. 

Just looking at the MC's on Needledoctor in your stated range and it looks like you are kind of limited to the AT's, the two Denon's a couple of Benz's and about three Ortofon's. If Comet had the Denon DL-S1 in stock like they usually do, they are selling it for about $350 off.  They do have the DL-304 in stock for a good price.

[neobop]

Maritan,
The thread about the eff mass of the Empire arm got me thinking.  This would be the perfect time to estimate the mass of the 770 arm.  If you have a platform scale that measures up to about an ounce, this would be easy.  Since this is a straight arm, results should be very close.

Procedure is to remove the counterweight and leave the headshell (w/o cart) on.  Elevate the scale so the arm is roughly level when you weigh.  You might want to put the power on and lower the cueing device.  I'd do this myself but I don't want to remove and reinstall the Genesis.
neo

[jimdgoulding]

Maritan, hi.  If you have any interest in a low output moving coil cartridge, I have one that I will sell you at a bargain.  A couple of months ago I purchased a brand new Shelter 501 Mk II about which you can read reviews online.  It's sound is very clean and detailed, spacious and dimensional, and images its fool head off, but I am a hopeless romantic, I suppose, and keep returning to my old Koetsu which doesn't do any of those things as well, but has a charm I can't do without.  Jes lemme know.  I also have a step-up device to raise its moving coil low output to normal pre-amp levels that I will package for you. 

Neobop can probably advise the both of us if the cartridge is suitable to your arm.

[Maritan]

Neo - I will certainly do that. That way, we know for certain what the effective mass is. Maybe this weekend or a little later, but when I do find out, I'll post back here and let you know what I find.

Jim - You have a PM. Very tempting offer and as you mentioned, we'll wait on Neo's input regarding the suitability of the cart with the TT/ tonearm.

[neobop]

Shelter 501 II - interesting development.  This is a highly thought of cart.  I've never had one so no experience with it on the arm, but I would guess it would be a good match.  It weighs 8.1g and cu is 9 (?)  If that figure is at 10Hz, which I assume it is, it should be a great combo.

All the Shelter MCs have a .3 x .7 elliptical.  This has an aluminum clad boron cantilever - unusual.  Sound is said to be a little on the warm side with good detail, harmonic resolution, transient response, imaging et al.  When I heard one, that seemed to be pretty much it - made for music and very listenable.   Price went up to $1200.

If this comes in your price range, and with a SUT, it seems like a great deal.
neo

[Maritan]

Never mind, Neo. Jim's already sold both. Just as well. I don't need to spend any more money than I am anyway.