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Replacing MM Cartridge suggestions phillips table

Fellow audiogoner's need your help. I've decided to plunge back into vinyl. Haven't played records in years so I need to replace my cartridge. I have a Philips 312 Electronic belt drive turntable. It tracks very well from .5 to 1.5 grams. Back in the day it competed (almost) with Thorens. I have a MA 2002E cartridge which I paid $250.00 for in the early 90's. My system is B&W N802, Wadia CDP with a crown amp and pre. I listen to jazz so hearing the full music spectrum is important, high-mids-lows. I've looked at a few manufactures but honestly I have no clue. Like every thing else there has been a big price increase over the years. How much do I need to spend in todays dollars to get the sound of a $200.00 dollar cartridge from the 90's? I've seen prices in the thousand dollar range, do you have to go that high to get a cartridge that matches the sound quality of a CD? I've been told that playing vinyl will make me forget my 200 plus cd collection. Thanks in advance I would particularly like to hear from jazz listners. Also do you think a 20 year old table that seems to play like it was new stacks up to whats available today or do I need to start over?
So if you have experience going from digital back to vinyl give me your recommendations on brands and price range.
walkelin
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
Kurt's suggestion is sound to first upgrade the turntable and tonearm. These two components are the essential foundation to good cartridge performance. The VPI Jr. is one option, but if you have the money, the VPI Scout with the JMW 9 arm is a superb package for the money.

There are some very good moderately priced cartridges on the market today, but at discount price, it's pretty hard to beat the newest version of the Shure V15xMR. It can be purchased new for $250-275, and at that price, I personally don't think there is another MM cartridge that comes close in overall performance.
rlxl
92 posts
 
Welcome back! I think you're in for a pleasant surprise and good listening. My recommendation would be to go with a Shure V15VxMR. I believe you can pick one up from Jack's Audio for $200. I think this is an excellent cartridge. If you go this route, be sure that your phono amp input load is 220 pfd. This makes a world of difference in the sound. Also you may consider replacing the belt and the bearing oil.

Good luck---and, not to worry, I listen mostly to jazz.
sean
6,229 posts
 
Your system, pretty much from digital source to speakers, comes across as being on the brighter i.e. quick and lean side of neutral. If one were to carry this over into your cartridge selection, i would avoid Grado's and the Shure mentioned above. If looking for similar sonic traits in a cartridge, you might want to opt for something along the lines of an Ortofon "Super" OM series cartridge or possibly the Stanton 881S or an AT 440. All are suitable for your straight low to medium mass tonearm and have similar sonic traits to what you are used to. Sean
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viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
To answer your question of how much you will need to spend, less than $100.00 will better your Micro Acoustics cartridge by a wide margin and will get you a cartridge that is well matched to your current turntable. I think that the V15Vmr is overkill, but Shure makes a nice catridge for $70.00 or so with many of the attributes of the V15. It is the M97. I agree with Sean that it may be a bit rich for your tastes. The OM20 Super that he recommends can be ordered from Audiogon member 2juki for $90.00 inclusive of shipping and the Audio Technica AT440ML can be had from various sources for under $100.00 You should get great enjoyment from your old rig with a new cartridge and most importantly, protect your records, but no need to put Pirellis on that VW. As Rcreations suggests, once hooked, you will want to invest in a new rig, though I think that something like a Rega P3 or P25 will be more consonant with your listening biases.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Oh, you will also want to change the belt if the table has been sitting, which should cost less than $20.00.
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