Micro Acoustics 2002e

Wow! Blast from the past, as I bought two of those in succession back in the late 70's and early 80's.  It's a lovely cartridge.  The piezoelectric driver sounded great in my system back them (before I caught the high end bug).  I'd like to try one again, my memories are so fond.....

Relax and enjoy the music!

Thanks for your positive response jbrrp1. I have a few other cartridges more costly than this one, but I am really curious. You have me anticipating it's arrival. I will report on what I hear.

It was somewhat of a renowned design in its day, but that was about 40 years ago. The problem with cartridges of that age is that their suspension and damping elastomers usually harden and will not perform as they were designed to. Never know until you try it and hopefully it will work out well for you!

Thanks Bill. I knew the risks when I bought the cartridge. I purchased it from a seller that I have purchased from before and paid an amount that will minimize my buyers remorse should your scenario become reality.I have a curiosity about different technologies and Micro Acoustics and the people involved. I even purchased a demonstration test record the same company distributed to test their own products. We shall see!

Experience yes, recent no. I purchased one of the first 2002e’s when they were introduced. It was eventually installed on a front end consisting of an Infinity Black Widow tonearm mounted on a Kenwood KD-500 turntable. I remember a very balanced presentation with excellent separation and lightning fast transients. Operating from memory I remember it as having low weight and very much at home in a low mass tonearm.

Thanks for your input tubegb. I have not yet received the cartridge but I have 4 tonearm options to mount it on. A stock Rega RB300 on a 1st generation Planar 3,  stock SL1200 MKII, stock Debut Carbon arm, and a vintage MAS 282 carbon fibre arm mounted on an SL1200 MKII. The MAS arm is probably the lowest mass of them all.

First of all thank you forum participants for your responses concerning the Micro Acoustics 2002e. Second of all, I have just received and mounted mine on a stock Technics SL1200 arm. I realize it may have been better served on a lower mass tonearm but the removable headstock design served my purpose for now. Running it through a Musical Surroundings Phonomena II.                                                                                                                                 Listening to the sountrack from Rainman. Leaving Walbrook/Hans Zimmer. Wow this cartridge is a keeper. Tracking force at one gram! It replaced my Nagaoka MP500 and is holding it's own at 20% the price of the Nag. Supposedly has 40-60 hrs on it. Had to adjust the antiskate but the MA is singing right now. At some point I will try her on lower mass tonearms but for now I will just enjoy!

Hi. Chris again. FYI I found a supplier for MA2002e stylus new. I haven't contacted them yet but they list the stylus only for $348.77. Bluz Broz Entertainment.

Chris,

When the opportunity presents itself you may want to increase the tracking force to 1.2 grams and see/hear what you think. Enjoy! 

Hi tubegb. Thanks for the tip. I am listening to James Newton Howard and Friends LP. I have been a fan of Jeff Porcaro's(RIP) drumming and the way he tuned his drum kit and his use of cymbals for years. This cartridge is a monster on percussive sounds. It makes me wonder why other manufacturers never pursued this technology. Is it the Wankel Engine of audio?