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What are your favorite phono cartridges?

Just curious, what are your favorite cartridges that you now use, or have used in the past? Do you prefer moving coil or moving magnet, or some other design? Here lately I have been collecting older moving coils and have been nicely surprised! My favorite right now is the GAS Sleeping Beauty and the Shelter 501 II.
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mapman's avatar
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mapman
15,679 posts
 
Denon dl103r.

Vintage goldring.
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syntax
2,033 posts
 
- Fidelity Research 7 series
- Lyra Olympos SL
- Lyra Helikon Mono
- Takeda Miyabi Standard
- Zyx Universe
dover
1,165 posts
 
The standouts for me -
Decca London Maroon MI rebuilt by Garrot Bros with Microscanner stylus
Ikeda 9 MC
Koetsu Onyx Gold MC rebuilt by AJ Van den hul
Van den Hul EMT Boron MC
Currently in rotation -
Dynavector Nova 13D
Fidelity Research FR1MK3F
Also own Ikeda Kiwame, Koetsu Black Goldline, Denon 103D, Shure V15VxMR
downunder
1,328 posts
 
Lyra Atlas
Dynavector XV-1s
Technics EPC P1000MK4
Audio Technical AT25
Linn Troika
lewm
6,770 posts
 
I am not saying any of these are "perfect":
Koetsu Urushi (Haven't listened to mine in about a year; others laugh at me for liking it.)
Ortofon MC7500 (a bit on the dry side)
Stanton 980LZS
Grace Ruby

I know for sure there are better ones out there. No matter how many cartridges I audition in my system, I will always be sure of that. The list is in no particular order; in fact, one could reverse the order of the list just as well. Would like to try ZYX UNI or Atmos, and some others, next.
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