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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
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
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
No, the Verso will not work. Have a look at photos of it. It has screws built into the top of the cartridge on the assumption that you will put bolts onto them from above. The screwy Thorens actually requires that the bolts screw into the headshell from below. The headshell taking the place of the bolts.

Ortofon is not a bad idea though, the older 500 series will work, as will the older OM series.
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