best cartridge under $500

Jhorsh, if you want to have very good quality MC sound with INEXPENSIVE Denon DL103, you MUST build your SYSTEM around it, not vise versa. There is a possibility that accidentaly Denon will sound good, but thats a lottery.

The hard work you do setting Denon DL103 gives you almost FREE vinyl replay - the price difference between NEW cart and worn/broken is so small its almost irrelavant. Therefore, this Denon is top destination four budget-minded audiophiles (SUTS and Phonostages you have to invest to, do not wears out like carts needles).



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i tried a denon 103 because it had high rating but it sounds dull and cheap.
and it was cheap 120.00
jon
Jhorsh

can i use a MM or a MC with a jolida jd-9?
do i even need to use a jolida jd-9 with a mcintoch c-30?

The Jolida can be set to accept either MM or MC. The C30 has a moving magnet phono stage. If you're going to use a moving magnet cartridge and like the sound of the C30's phono stage better than the Jolida, or if you just like the convenience of not having an extra box in the system, then you don't need the JD9.

Never having been a VPI or SME owner, I don't have a recommendation for you in terms of cartridge choice. In general, I've preferred moving magnets to moving coils and tend to stick to the cheaper end. At present, I'm using a $39 Audio Technica CN5625AL on my Linn LP12/Ittok rig, and am getting lively, engaging sound. The .7 mil conical tip is tracking at 2.25 grams and deals nicely with all my records, including some rather beat-up, bargain-bin albums. I've also liked the Shure M97xE mentioned above; its stabilizer brush really helps handle warped records, and the slightly shelved down upper frequencies make for pleasant long-term listening, never bright or fatiguing.

If the Denon 103 sounded dull then you have the wrong loading or phono stage.
The 103 is a legendary match with the SME 3009 S2.Mine sounds superb through my Dynavector 75 phono with the same arm.It does sound dull through a Cambridge 640 P phono however.

A little over $500 but worth every cent:

Dynavector DV-20X Low MC catridge

Dear Jhorsh: The Jrtrent advise makes a lot of sense if you go for the MM/MI cartridge alternative.

In your price range and even lower IMHO thre are many MM/MI cartridges that not only " disappear/makes dust " ( on any set up . ) the 103 but that can compete with LOMC cartridges in the 2k price range The MM/MI alternative can give you this very fine high quality performance where for a MC cartridge could even it you need to spend a lot of money not only in the cartridge but in the phono stage and tonearm too.

One of the reasons why the MM/MI alternative is so good is because due to its higher output level needs less gain from the phono stage ( you only need the C30. ) and this less gain means less gain stages where the cartridge signal must pass: in a MM/MI alternative the electronic degradation to the cartridge signal is a lot lower than with any LOMC cartridge.

In the other side the MM/MI alternative give you a better LP tracking performance that means lower tracking distortion than MC cartridges, especially over low compliance MC cartridges like the 103 and many others out there.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.