Cartridge & Headshell for SL1210 M5G $399

If I was willing to buy an inexpensive MM/MC Preamp (like the Rotel), what cartridges would you recommend in the same $399 price range?

Darrell

07-06-08: Tvad
The finger lift on my ZuPreme causes absolutely no distortion that can be detected with it on versus with it removed, or in comparison with the stock Technics headshell.

Interestingly, that is the one difference between the Sumiko and the ZuPreme--the finger lift.

On the ZuPreme, the finger lift comes attached--it's screwed into the side of the headshell with tiny screws. On the Sumiko, it's a separate piece of stamped sheet metal with two spaced screw holes that you attach by sliding the screw holes over the cartridge mounting screws when attaching the cartridge.

I tried mounting the finger lift below and above, but decided that mounting it on top of the headshell sounds better, at least for the DL-160 I was mounting at the time.

I have both a Sumiko and a ZuPreme, and it's obvious that the headshells are sourced from a single 3rd party--same material, same weight, exact same shape, same cartridge leads, and same "Japan" cast in the same place on the underside of the headshell.

I like the ZuPreme a little better because the finger lift is truly attached, not supplied as a stamped afterthought that you have to attach as part of mounting the cartridge. It's easier to use the ZuPreme.

I think Nagaoka is the manufacturer for the headshell you are talking about. I just opened up a Nagaoka MP-50 today, and reading their documentation was interesting. They are an OEM manufacturer as well for 'other' companies providing various components and such for cartridges. Further reading (so rare to find a cartridge with any substantial documentation no?) the MP-50 comes in another version called the MP-50H, the 'H' being the supplied headshell for this cartridge. The diagram showing the headshell is the same as the Sumiko/ZuPreme in question.

So there is one possible answer to your theory of Sumiko and ZuPreme sourcing from a 3rd party - Nagaoka. It was Raul's posting on MM cartridges that motivated me to try a Nagaoka, I had no idea what I'm in for, but I'm sure it will be good.