2. analog
  3. 147039-2484

What's your go-to cheapie cartridge?

Let's say $300 or less. This would be your "y'know, this thing is pretty darn musical even though I've got higher end carts" cartridge. In my case I'd have to say it's my 103R. Not as transparent or fast as a lot of my better carts, but it sails smoothly through the grooves and just sounds good. 
tonyptony
tonyptony OP
500 posts
 
Grado Gold with 8MZ stylus is also a good combo

@stevecham, how would you say the Gold stock versus the Gold with the 8MZ compare?

chakster's avatar
chakster
2,482 posts
 
The best Grado stylus for any Grado Black, Gold etc cartridge body is XTZ, huge upgrade, but expensive. The XTZ was designed by Joseph Grado for his Signature Grado XTZ cartridge (discountinued model), but the styli still available from Grado. 
stevecham
3,298 posts
 
The highs are more prominent with the 8TZ styus and I feel it tracks better than with the stock stylus. Overall the frequency balance seems more even. I’m sure the XTZ would be even better, but it’s out of my price range.

One thing I wish Grado, as a prominent phono cartridge maker would do, is provide the dimensional profiles of the styli used on its cartridges. They need to join the vinyl playback world in that regard. They say "elliptical," well what exactly does that mean? Feels like they’re trying to hide something.
Post removed 
tyray
60 posts
 
I took a chance and bought a used Shure V15VxMR MM cartridge for 220 CAN which ended up being $150 bucks US hoping nothing was wrong with it as they normally go for $500 and installed a JICO SAS VN5xMR stylus and to my surprise it worked just fine and have been using this setup for awhile now.

And this is after 'retiring' my Shure M91ED cartridge I bought for $35 and installed a JICO SAS N91ED stylus with boron.
More to discover