[weirdo]

Evaluating a new cartridge has turned out to be not so much fun any more and some fresh input would be helpful. I currently have an AT 120. I like it enough but I need a bit more soundstage and perhaps a bit more musicality.
I live in a budget world for audio equipment these days. 

I have the choices narrowed down to Denon 110DL, AT440Ml or Stanton 681, based primarily on reviews. The Stanton is based on a hunch since I remember them sounding very good in another lifetime.

 Someone has suggested that I buy used from Audiogon or another serious source. I appreciate the recommendation however I am hesitating on that one. A cartridge is the most fragile of beasts and I just don't want to purchase used. As you can tell my budget is limited. My music tastes are mostly classical, symphony and choral.  I have a Denon 500m table with a tube amplifier having a typical mm card.

Much appreciated. dk

[richidoo]

I have a AT 150MLx, I love it. I got it used on AC, it works great. $310 new on lpgear.com.

[jrtrent]

Recommending a cartridge to another is fraught with difficulty, especially when one doesn't share common components.  In my experience, the lack of "musicality" rests far more on the turntable than on the cartridge, and I haven't heard a Denon 500M to know whether it is capable of meeting a level of musical reproduction I would find acceptable.  To let you know my tastes, a Rega P1 makes music; a Technics SL1200 does not. This isn't to say one is better than the other, just that I prefer the Rega's strengths in rhythm and pace over the Technics's strengths in timing and pitch stability; a person with different priorities could well prefer the Technics.

I haven't heard the Denon DL-110; the reviews I've read of it make it appear that it wouldn't match my preferences, so that's one line I've never explored.  Of the remaining two, I prefer the Stanton as it offers a richer tonal palette, the AT sounding somewhat thin and colorless in comparison, robbing orchestral music of some of its beauty and making it more difficult to distinguish timbral differences between instruments playing notes of similar pitch and loudness.  The Stanton also offered more stereo separation in my system.

AT cartridges have strengths (such as doing a good job of portraying music in a tuneful, rhythmic way), and I've owned and enjoyed several models, including the 440ML, over the years, but to my ears they share a house sound that's a bit bright on the top end and with a recessed midrange.  When I've had an AT mounted up, I find myself enjoying a greater percentage of pop/rock oriented material.  For the music you listed, I think the Stanton is worth trying as it will offer a different perspective on the music than your current AT120.

[Browntrout]

I like Grados, I like classical music. 

[TheChairGuy]

3 good choices for reasonable change in todays market, weirdo/dk. 

Good luck - recommending the exact cartridge for your needs is a tough call.

I like Stanton/Pickering's and think the higher-line brother to the DL110 (the DL160) makes terrific music for the money.  As for AT's...the cheaper they are the better value to my ears....as the price points move up I find their sonics too fatiguing for the outlay.

That's just one persons opinion, unfortunately - and may not be yours 

John

FOR SALE - Fully updated Superphon Dual Mono Preamp and DM200 Amp - $800 shipped http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=72676.new#new

[rayr0683]

Hello,
 
           I am pretty much in the same situation as you, budget wise these days. I only have one DD Turntable, the rest are belt drive, and my best being a VPI.  I also have had a couple of the cartridges mentioned. I agre with the house sound of AT, however, I have really liked the ATOC9 most of all. I did also like the AT440ML....but was kind of bright for me, might be my system though, I had it on a heavier arm.  I recently bought a brand new Denon DL-110 from Ebay, there is a guy selling brand new sealed Denon's very reasonably....the DL110 was $100.00 USD. and the DL-160 is aboiut $114.00. Its called Yogi-Comp the Seller on Ebay, I have no association, was just looking for best price, and quickest shipment.  I have to say, I have liked this Denon DL-110 alot, very full bodied,and detailed.  As it turns out, lately most people who buy one of these 2 High Output Denons, have been buying the DL-110 over the more famous DL-160.  If you do some Google searches, you will find several of the reasons why.  I have no Stanton, only Shure's and Grado's, which I like alot. Thats about all the help I can be. All are very affordable that I mention, and all were bought new, not used.         Best, Ray

Evaluating a new cartridge has turned out to be not so much fun any more and some fresh input would be helpful. I currently have an AT 120. I like it enough but I need a bit more soundstage and perhaps a bit more musicality.
I live in a budget world for audio equipment these days. 

I have the choices narrowed down to Denon 110DL, AT440Ml or Stanton 681, based primarily on reviews. The Stanton is based on a hunch since I remember them sounding very good in another lifetime.

 Someone has suggested that I buy used from Audiogon or another serious source. I appreciate the recommendation however I am hesitating on that one. A cartridge is the most fragile of beasts and I just don't want to purchase used. As you can tell my budget is limited. My music tastes are mostly classical, symphony and choral.  I have a Denon 500m table with a tube amplifier having a typical mm card.

Much appreciated. dk

[Mister Pig]

I don't know what they sell for these days. But the "1000" series of cartridges from Goldring are my favorite budget cartridges. They hae excellent clarity and detail, but still have a seductive and sweet midrange. Even the lowest one in the series uses an advanced stylus profile, and do a good job of minimizing surface noise. Even if they cost a bit more than the cheapest of budget cartridges, the Goldrings are worth the extra money.

Regards
Mister Pig

[BobM]

Just to throw another stone into the pond ...

There's a rather huge thread over at Audiogon that discusses the benefits of some older NOS and relatively inexpensive MM cartridges over modern MC's. I think a primary reason for their renewed popularity is the low cost and the finding that 47K loading is not appropriate for them (perhaps because of their age or maybe for some other reason). The participants on that thread found a different loading point that seems to make these inexpensive gems shine.

Here's the link:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1200430667&read

Enjoy the hunt,
Bob

[neobop]

Hi,
The AT-120 is only $79 and is probably tough to beat for that money. I think it really depends on how much you're willing to spend. The Denon 110 and 160 are pretty nice and will probably give you more of that soundstage you're looking for. The AT-440 has a more detailed analytical sound, but I had to load it at 32K to tame the aggressive top end. If you can do that, it's really quite good.

I'd take the loading recommendations on that Audiogon thread, with a grain of salt. It's really cartridge and system dependant. Many of those are $300 to $500, if you can find them. If you're in that price range, it's a whole other ballgame.

Here's a link to a site where you can download samples, and compare a bunch of different ones;
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/daveyw/cartridges/

Frank

[rayr0683]

Hello,
         If I can jump in as well. I have not tried the AT-120, but have used the AT-440, properly loaded, at 32K, for my situation, although my arm was a bit heavy for the cart on paper, it did sound nice and detailed.

             I have found a nice bargain, for $100.00 on auction site, I got myself a fresh sealed Denon DL-110, and I have to tell you, it surprised the heck out of me, for the price paid. Firstly I read tons of great experiences with this DL-110 in many types of systems, and various arms, and everything had been glowing. Even those who had used the more popular DL-160, close in price, difference of about $20.00 by seller I used, liked it, but surprisingly, the more I am reading, the more people who have tried both cartridges by Denon, are preferring the DL-110 over the DL-160, for lots of reasons, and I can only agree based on my experiences.....I am using it with a 16 Gram Effective Mass ARm, and the results are phenominal.  Most people that do used this DL-110, tend to use a lighter Arm, and really love the sound, seems to be a true Bargain for $100.00, sounds as good assome cartridges I have had costing many times more.   Ray

Hi,
The AT-120 is only $79 and is probably tough to beat for that money. I think it really depends on how much you're willing to spend. The Denon 110 and 160 are pretty nice and will probably give you more of that soundstage you're looking for. The AT-440 has a more detailed analytical sound, but I had to load it at 32K to tame the aggressive top end. If you can do that, it's really quite good.

I'd take the loading recommendations on that Audiogon thread, with a grain of salt. It's really cartridge and system dependant. Many of those are $300 to $500, if you can find them. If you're in that price range, it's a whole other ballgame.

Here's a link to a site where you can download samples, and compare a bunch of different ones;
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/daveyw/cartridges/

Frank

[sanlanman]

www.garage-a-records.com has a bulk purchase of the Ortofon OM10 selling at $59.95 in lieu of the usual 69.95. I am thinking of getting one as a back-up cartridge.

[sts9fan]

Has anyone tried a Soundsmith SMMC4 cart?  I am looking for a cart for a old Philips 212 I am fixing up.  The Denon 160 and the Soundsmith are on my short list.