Cart update: old TT, new electronics
I've just significantly upgraded my system, but comparisons over the last year with my modded Thorens TD115 + Ortofon VMS20eMkII have shown it better than a Music Hall MMF7 or Planar25. I've had the TT and cart for 22 years and they make a great match: high compliance cart + low-mass tonearm. Replacement styli every few years. The TT has 10lbs inert clay in the base, a nice mat and clamp, good interconnects. I also have a 2nd TP-30 tonearm wand, and can easily drill through the top as needed for carts that can only accept screws from above (ie Grado woods).
But the signal chain is now a BelCanto Phono 1 (40, 54, 60dB gain), Sonic Frontiers Line1, McCormack DNA0.5 revB and recent Thiel 2.3, with good AQ ic/cabling. The Thiels have shown up the age of my cart. I'm doing a crash course in current carts that will be truly the next level beyond the Ortofon that has been so musically satisfying over the years. Even though the Thorens isn't the final word in modern TT design, I feel it's fine for allowing a new cart to perform well.
> reasonably high compliance, low weight, light tracking for the low-mass tonearm
> definitely NOT bright or forward because of my Thiels and preferences
> reasonably forgiving setup - tonearm has no VTA, all adjustments in headshell
> nothing too tweaky, hard-to-find or esoteric
> <<$1K used
> all the great sound qualities of modern carts incl solid articulate bass, rich mids, airy highs
> prefer not to have a very low output MC, the above criteria seem not to favor them anyway
> wide range of musical taste, but more rock-based than chamber music or new age
Candidates:
> Grado Reference, high or low output. What's not to like? Compliant, light, detailed, not bright, well-received.
> Benz Glider H2. Too bright? Too little compliance for arm? Too inexpensive? Better Benzes?
> Clearaudio Virtuoso. Not too much info but good company and great reviews, too heavy @ 10g.
> Ortofon Kontrapunkt a/b: too heavy, too bright, too bad.
> Van den Hul Frog: good luck finding one used.
> Shure V15 latest incarnation. Any better than my Ortofon??
Any and all useful input appreciated!
-Scott
