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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! 
sunnyjim
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
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.
sunnyjim OP
884 posts
 

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.

viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
It doesn't always translate to better sound quality, but the 120 is technically superior to the 2M Red in that it has a nude mounted stylus, whereas the Red had a bonded stylus. The lower moving mass of a nude mounted stylus and the generally better quality stone should be improvements, though the motor is also a major contributor to sound quality.
gshepardbuster's avatar
gshepardbuster
587 posts
 
Ortofon makes a bottom mount version of the 2M series called Verso, might work for you. 
sunnyjim OP
884 posts
 
 To gsshepardbuster.  Thank for the heads up about the Verso model. It may prove useful somewhere down the line
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