New Cartridge for SME 309


Need help. I've got an SME309/VPI HW19/Mod3A(28db gain phono). Using an AT150ML, twelve years old at least. Had a Dyna 10x4 Mk2 but I killed it. Anyway, getting back into the hobby and interested in a new cartridge.

Here's where I'm at. I was thinking going low output via KandK stepup. Looking at Denon 301 II, Dyna 20xL, Benz Glider. Are the more expensive cartridges worth the price you pay over the Denon? Same goes for the Dyna and Benz. I'm also contemplating going with a 10x5 and just upgrade my table instead. I liked the 10x4 it was music compared to the AT150. Especially important was how quiet it was. If you haven't guessed by now, I'm a cheapo and buy alot of used vinyl. So, that I can spend my money on other more important things, i.e other hobbies. Any other cartridges I should look at. Thanks.
secips
A friend of mine has a 309 on an HW-19 IV. The 309 has the the dampening trough and the upgraded pivot bearings. This is a terrific arm/table combination.

I don't know about the specific cartridges you are looking at, but I can say that the table/arm combination is worthy of a top grade cartridge. My friend currently runs a Transfiguration Orpheus in his setup and this cartridge sounds very good. In fact, as far as tracking a Shure test record, it does better than the Orpheus in my Vector arm on my Basis Table (cost is several multiples of the SME/VPI).
Hmmmm... top grade cartridge? Gulp. You're making me go against my religion :). Coming from an AT150ml, I don't know if I'll be able to fully appreciate these cartridges. Small steps? Besides, it'll make too much of a dent on my tire and brake budget ;).

I do have the damping attachment on my 309, improves tracking markedly. What's nice about it is that you can turn it on or off, 'cause it doesn't always make things better. I didn't know you could upgrade the bearings. What I wanted was to upgrade the internal wiring, don't know if you can do that either, its sealed from the detachable headshell. I've got a ways to go to make my VPI a Mark IV. I was actually thinking going with a Michell or Oracle which also seems to have synergy with the SME. Any other tables out there?
Hi,

I didn't mean to imply that you should go to a top grade cartridge, but that the arm and table certainly would do justice to ANY choice, even the best available cartridges.

As for upgrades, I don't know if it is possible to actually buy a particular arm and then have it upgraded later vs. buying an "upgraded" arm with better bearings, like the ABEC 7 bearings. Same thing with the arm wiring.

The friend with the SME/VPI does a lot of tinkering and also moves that arm and a Graham 1.5t between the VPI and a Technics table. On both tables, he gets the same basic performance (we both actually prefer the SME 309). I generally think that the arm, and certainly the cartridge, makes a bigger difference once you get to a reasonably good quality level. If the VPI has been giving you pretty good performance, perhaps you should think of upgrading it to the highest HW-19 status and spend the big dollars on a good cartridge.