Cartridge Options

The Ortofon MC-1C Turbo high output moving coil on my ancient Rega Planar 3 is approaching the end of its service life and I'm on the hunt for something new! Exciting yet daunting, hence this post and general request for opinions.

I'm currently thinking about the Dynavector el-cheapo, Grado Prestige Silver or a Rega cart. The Denon 103 would be very nice but it seems near on impossible to find in KL. From the above you could surmise that my budget is in the RM500-1000 range.

Let it rip!!!

Hmmm... 500-1000, I am sure you can squeeze a bit more right ? I check around my haunt tomorrow and let you know the choices they have.

Benz-Micro MC Silver, MC gold or ACE-series .... RM700~1200 range. Brand new. Available locally.

Previously, I had Grado MCZ & Prestige Green, and the Benz Micro from these series just totally beats the Grados in just about every respect of sonic qualities.

Denon DL-103, is so totally over-rated. Dunno why some people keep harping on it so much. Easily bested by a mid-range Audio Technica AT33 series. Night/Day improvement difference also.

Or push up abit to RM2K+, a Clearaudio Maestro wood , although MM, is even more highly regarded than say, a Lyra Helikon (and this ain't no cheapo cart either).

Hmmm... I think this poison master has about everything covered for you. I highly recommend Benz Micro catridges as well. But MF, that Grado MCZ was used and it probably wasn't in very good condition I think.

Denon DL160 was a very very nice sounding cartridge at its price point. Unfortunately so fast discontinued, why ah? DL-110 is the alternative, but unsure how good it is. Yes, 103 is overhyped, overrated but just as many owners are not really complaining.

I recently had a go with a Transfiguration cartridge, its actually damn good. Ortofon MC series are dated and not worth it.

Thank you thank you.... Benz is sold by Unker Adrian right? Are they warm and glowing in their response? Reason I'm not going further up the ladder is that the Planar 3 will soon be relegated to secondary duty when I procure a new TT...

Why not buy top-end now and then transfer the catridge to your new high-end turntable later ?

Cos I still want something decent for this table while I sort out the new TT which is in reality still a few months away...

Ah so, then we shall only administer the more potent poison a few months later la. In the meantime, for the Rega 3, one of the Benz Micros mentioned by MF should be very nice.

Cartridge loading is crucial. Check your phono amp for range and flexibility. Perfect loading match is crucial to get the best from any cart. Try Needle Doctor. Plenty of choice. Exchange rate currently good against USD. Take advantage of it. I strongly recommend Ortofon Salsa if you like the Ortofon sound. That should be around RM 1k. Postage shouldn't be expensive for such a small item. Best send them an email to get quote. I am too, getting a Sumiko. Cheers.

I'm a technical dullard and lazy arse to boot, so I thought if I get it locally most sellers will pasang the barang as well. Senang senang lar.... But thanks for the Sumiko heads up... Will check it out....

My phono stage is the Holfi Ellipse... Open the cover and flick the switch between MC and MM voila... Done, finish, habis....

MC has many load settings. If you have only one, check your user instruction for details and get the right cart to suit. You may end up buying the wrong stuff and end up saying the cart is no good. Happens a to a lot of people. Cheers.

After a quick google, I found the following specs right Herron Hifi4Sale...

MC : 0,2 mV / 100 Ohms
MM : 2,0 mV / 47 kOhms

So I'm looking for cartridges that fall into those types and outputs....

Ok bro good luck.

Benz and Grado both seem ok... Now, another quick question... The MC1 Turbo beast hanging off of my tone arm now is definitely inferior to any of the carts we've just mentioned right?....

I see a visit to Unker Adrian coming up....

Wan Azami Hamzah wrote:MC has many load settings. If you have only one, check your user instruction for details and get the right cart to suit. You may end up buying the wrong stuff and end up saying the cart is no good. Happens a to a lot of people. Cheers.

With Adjustable-Gain in 2dB increments from 54dB to 70dB for MC mode, (MM would be -20dB or so, same increments).

And also Multicurve for: RIAA, Columbia-LP, Decca-London, AES, NAB, CCIR.

Would this be good enuff for you ?


And if you get a chance to see the load combos on a Pipit unit, its even more dramatic !

maybe someone can scan and post it up for references...

Mugen... is that the schematic for my phono-stage? I don't have the manual as it was lost a long long time ago when my parents had custody of the TT and associated gear...

errr... i don't know what phono stage you're using dude....

i did mention somewhere above... Holfi Ellipse... no worries, got a bit blur somewhere along the line... But just to confirm, Benz is stocked by Audio Image correctomundo?

Audio Image:

AIME, Air Tight, Artemis Labs, Audio Physic, Benz Micro, Exposure, Finite Elemente, Kuzma, Magico, Odeon, Odyssey, PowerTrans, Schroeder, Soulution.

What MF put was the settings for the AIME multi-curve phono. This is the full function unit but with a pair of single ended inputs. About that unker and Benz Micro, yes.

Cool thanks, i'll sms the unker now and I could be grooving with a new needle tomorrow evening!... After Beethoven of course... anyone going to the show tomorrow night at the MPO....?

Ah, a regular of 'that' place eh ? Small world. Hope you find a catridge you like !

Not regular at all... been there twice... once to drop off records for cleaning and once to pick 'em up... spent some time listening to whatever he had going at the time though... might see you there then!

The Unker only had the Benz Ace range and up, therefore outside of budget... I headed out and bought some records and a pair of speaker cables for fun instead...

Does anyone have any experience with, or are users of Dynavector? I saw the 10X online and it looks awesome....

So.... While obviously the Dynavector has no proponents, how about the much vaunted Goldring 1042?

I am using Benz Micro MC Gold. I prefer it over Rega Exact. Both are similarly priced (RM800-RM850). Rega Exact is MM while the Benz Micro is MC. Anyone know the price of Benz Micro Ace?