Cartridge Question

The radical cut stylus on the black is very, very sensitive to correct VTA, azimuth and horizontal alignment. Check these extremely carefully, check a second, then a third time. I bet that you can get it to sound much better. You may also want to play with tracking force and anti-skate, as well.

The Ortofon 2M Blue is a wonderful cartridge and sounds fuller and richer than the Black or Bronze which are both more detailed.

I agree with Viridian and would add that if the same guy who told you that you needed a different cartridge because of the output level being too low on the Goldring, has done the setup;I would recheck it.
Get a decent protractor and a digital scale(this can be bought online for less than $30.00[not made for audiophile use])and check it yourself.
This is the level of the hobby that requires your participation and is some of the most interesting parts.
I would also use a vernier caliper (cheap at harbour freight)and make changes to the VTA until you like what you hear. Make very small changes and record your caliper readings.
This is assuming that you can make VTA adjustments with your arm.
Keep rechecking the overhang after each VTA adjustment.

By engaging yourself and learning to set up the cartridge,you will have a much better understanding and will become a better listener.

You will find yourself going to other audiophile homes and wondering if their VTA is too high or too low as you listen.

Personally I like line contact/shibata styli.They are always more detailed and revealing.What Transnova is saying about the Blue having more body and sounding richer is probably due to hearing the Black with incorrect VTA. They are definitely more sensitive.
Sounds like you have a nice system,enjoy it.

Dear Brent: All the posts has very wise and mature advise on your thread subject, I only want to add some thoughts about:

first the Ortofon is a MM/MI cartridge that needs not only the right load impedance but the total capacitance value ( that the Eroica does not needs. ) too, changing these values help to tame the cartridge quality performance.

second, the Ortofon has almost the double output level and maybe the Rogue can't handle ( has no overload range ) the cartridge characteristics, this is very specific in transientes especialy on high frequencies and you heard/hear the overload of a phono stage like a distortion similar of what you have.

third, maybe the Eroica is a better match for your tonearm than the Ortofon but in this regard I really can't be sure, there is a posibility of that fact.

fourt, at 50% of the volume for your Eroica in the Rogue means that everything is ok. I agree that you re-check the Ortofon set up because that dealer/person seems to me is a little un-experienced.

All these thoughts does not mean that the Eroica is better than the Ortofon but that there are some problems with.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Really excellent guidance from everyone above.

I too question the dealer's knowledge. Your Eroica had plenty of output for any phono stage. Further, as Raul noted, the Ortofon's 8mv could actually cause input overload with some phono stages. That could explain the distortions you're hearing. So, however, could any of the other factors already noted, or any combination of several of them. Vinyl playback is not simple, it's just fun!

Emorrisiv's advice was spot on: you're approaching a level of equipment and appreciation where you and your music will benefit from learning to do these things yourself.

Sadly, the number of dealers who understand how to get the most from a vinyl rig is small and shrinking, because there's just no longer a market for it. Happily, many real experts are regular contributors to forums like this one. This makes learning and doing it yourself possible, and rewarding to many who take the plunge.