Cartridge recommendation?


Hi everyone,

I was hoping to get some cartridge recommendations from you. I have a Marantz TT-15s1 with a Croft RIAA phono amp. The Marantz came with a very nice Clearaudio Virtuoso cartridge. However, the stylus is extremely fragile. I've never broken a stylus before, but I've broken two Virtuosos (and at $900 a pop, it's not worth it). I picked up a Denon DL-110 that is a very clean sounding cartridge. However, it's a bit too clinical and precise. It doesn't really capture the warmth and weight that initially turned me on to analog.

So, I was looking for recommendations on a cartridge (MM or HOMC) in the $500 range that would bring back a bit of the warmth that I'm missing with the Denon. Thanks in advance for any insight you might have.

Best, Scott
smrex13
If you want warmth go with a Grado Sonata ($600) or a Grado
Platinum ($350). Just make sure they are compatible with
your tonearm ! The Grado weighs 6 grams,the table you have
does not mention what the weight of the cartridge that should
be used!

Another candidate for the Audio Technica AT150MLX. It beats the pants off my DL-160 on ... well, everything, so it would be even that much better than the DL-110. You can also alter the tonal balance by playing with the VTF and VTA. I recently lowered my tonearm (SL1210 with height adjustment) a skooch and warmed up the presentation a bit. Best of all, the AT150MLX has a replaceable stylus for $180.

You also might be a candidate for the Zu103. It's a low-compliance cartridge which should have a more rugged cantilever. Although your tonearm is probably optimized for a medium-to-high compliance cartridge, the Zu version of the DL-103 weighs a lot more than the stock DL-103, thus raising the tonearm's overall effective mass into the 103's comfort zone.

Those wood-bodied Grados are also probably a good suggestion as a lower cost replacement for the original wood-bodied Clearaudio cartridge.

Still, the AT150MLX has the sound of a high resolution cartridge. The cantilever is pretty fine but has held up well for me. I've owned mine for 8 years and clean the stylus regularly with a piece of Magic Eraser. No bends, crimps, or breaks.
If your tonearm height is adjustable, try and lower the base a bit. This sometimes will give you the results you desire.
I think that is you are looking for a warm presentation the Grado line is a nice recommendation. I would add to that the Nagaoka line. They should work very well with your excellent phono preamp and turntable. The 150 is a very good deal. The stylii are also user replacable.