Mainly a thread to discuss sub $200 affordable moving magnet jobbers. Surely Greg will post some envy inducing pics of his MC setup to piss us all off. :lol:
Ive listened to four brands a LOT in my life:
Various Shure: SC35C, V15 series, and many DJ versions.
Stanton: The bayonette mount DJ ones, my current vintage L727
Grado: Black and Green.
Ortofon: OM5E, owned three of these entry level guys.
Last night I switched out the 20 y/o Stanton (stylus is virtually unworn tho) with an Ortofon. Listened to some quiet songs from "Rattlesnakes" and some rocking alt country. Switched back and forth a couple times. Came to the conclusion: I will NEVER buy another OM5E. Yes, theyre brilliant on the high end--you can virtually taste the hi-hat and shimmer of the cymbals--but the damn things just murder silibants on the last couple tracks of anything and make it murder to listen to. The Stanton was impressive, but a sleeper. Still gets the his, but a little less drama, with a airly flat and almost lazy midrange--but when you put on some screaming rock and ask it to work for its money--it steps up. Im rather impressed for such an old design.
Still, my ears are telling me to buy a Shure. I used to run a cheap SC35C at 2.5g, and loved it, even tho its a broadcast/DJ cart--never got tiring. So as soon as I sell my old deck, Im allowing myself a new Shure M97XE. Theyre marked down from $140 to 60 at Amazon. :shock: I just cant say no to that. :D
What are the rest of youse running?
Ive always found Shure reliable at the low end, and Ive flitted between DJ uses and critical listening. To me, the Ortofons are just too DJ for my liking, same for Stanton actually. Its been so long since I had a setup though I couldnt tell you any recommendations on specific carts, mind.
Greg no doubt has something esoteric and possibly hand-crafted :lol:
Quote from: Clockd 0Neesoteric
good word :!:
dont know if its the dyslexia or its just me, but I get half way through a sentence and forget the word I was just about to say... even tho I just knew it.....
so I love a good word now and again :)
Quote from: Clockd 0NeIve always found Shure reliable at the low end, and Ive flitted between DJ uses and critical listening. To me, the Ortofons are just too DJ for my liking, same for Stanton actually. Its been so long since I had a setup though I couldnt tell you any recommendations on specific carts, mind.
Greg no doubt has something esoteric and possibly hand-crafted :lol:
I have no qualms with getting the Shure. The only other option is the Audio Technica 400 series, which is apparently even brighter than the Ortofon, and has a tendency to "lint up" as it is very oval and rides loooow in the groove. They do track well according to what I hear.
Funny I always thought Ortofon and Stanton were the carts of 70s hifi gear. I honestly had no clue that Ortofon did DJ tips till I saw some at the club! :lol: The non OM Ortofon stuff intrigues me, but out of my budget. The high output stuff is nearly affordable starting at around 350usd. Ouch. Not needed for Hawaiian music LPs. :lol:
I would love to try of of stantons venerable 681s as well. It runs an affordable 130 bucks on the street.
Ive got an Ortofon cart on my pro-ject turntable. Came with the unit, so far it seems to sound nice. There seems to be something missing, though I cant quite place my finger on what it is.
Im looking for something that will help my funk flow nicely. Of course this Ortofon did come with the unit and it was priced at Ã,£135 so I imagine there is a massive scope for improvement.
Then again I can rarely find decently priced funk LPs around so it isnt getting used much :cry:
The OM5E Ortofon comes with the Project. Its a strange little cart. One day youll be listening to jazz and be just wowed by the presence of the muted trumpet and be like "OMG, this little guy is the best ever!", then the next day youll be listening to a vintaged CCR record on an inner track and the the harmonica will sound like its made of cardboard. Ive had a love/hate affair with that cart for a decade. :lol:
For under $200, the carts I listed are the ones that are pretty much the consensus to try as an upgrade. The M97XE Shure is almost worth ordering from the states, as you can find it for $60 here, and UK list is 3X that. If you really want to dig some info out of your records, do try an Audio Technica 400 series.
If youre looking to experience "smoothness" as opposed to the Japanese amphetamine laced accuracy of the ATs, order a Grado Black from stateside. Totally worth the silly cheap $40, and youll be able to listen to headphones all night.
FWIW, all of the Ortofon OM series styli are interchangeable, so thats another way to go, but I think the silibant problem with that cart is just inherant no matter what the tip is. :P