Best cartridge for a Thorens TD-160 turntable (must mount from bottom up)
Looking some recommendations for a MM or high output MC cartridge between $150 to $250. This cartridge must be mounted from the bottom up, not the top down because of the design of the headshell. Thank you!
You need a high compliance cartridge for that arm. I’m thinking Audio Technica AT440 MLb or if you can use an MC then Denon DL301. You might be able to get away with a Nagaoka MP150, but the compliance is a bit lower.
Thank you for your response. I almost bought AT440, (what does MLb stand for or mean)??). Actually, I went cheap and bought the AT-120L ( actually not a bad cartridge for $96.00.
The Denon DL 301 MC would have to at least a 3.5mV to 4mV output to accommodate tne phono stage of my Rogue Sphinx integrated. The Nagaoka cartridges I have heard a great deal Would the lower compliance of the MP150 made that difference in the sound??
If you bought the AT120E (not L) you have a great cartridge. The ML in MLb stands for Micro Line - the radical cut of the stylus, as opposed to elliptical, as in the 120E, or conical - and the b stands for the third iteriation of the cartridge as in 440ML, 440MLa, 440MLb. Actually there are other forebears of this cartridge, the AT140ML, etc.
Viridian, Thank again for the information about AT120E, and the identification letters on AT440 cartridge
Also, I thought my ears or mind was deceiving me when I first listened to the AT120E; though somewhat limited in its high frequencies, this cartridge was very musical and easy to listen to. I thought it sounded better than the Ortofon 2m Red which I had previously mounted on the Rega P3-24 TT and Rega 302(?) arm.
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