colterphoto1 Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I came to an awful realization last week. I have a nice MMF5 turntable with Goldring cart in my gallery (2 channel) room, but don't want to use that setup to sort through my garage sale collections of LP's. So i've been doing that on more readily accessible hearth room with Technics SL1700 semi-auto direct drive turntable. HORRORS, I've been using my 'high-school era' Stanton 681EEE which I just had the thought, might be damaging any good vinyl I find. Therefore I am in search for a correct new cartridge that might mate with this table. I used the Stantons back in the day bedcause I liked their short cantilever. It worked well for backtracking when I recorded mix cassettes. That is not an issue now. So a longer cantilever is acceptable. Something not too spendy, maybe Grado Green or similar? I understand just a bit about this whole compliance/mass issue and this room is over a basement with some floor bounce. The Technics has pretty good suspension and is on a very heavy rack next to a corner so it's a bit resistant to floor shock. Any help from the cart experts out there? Gary? Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwwrs Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Michael, Depending on how much listening you do on the Technics here's my choices. If you're considering the Grado Green, I'd through in another 20 or so bucks and go for a Shure M97xE. It's a great cartridge for the money and the sweetness only improves after about 50 hours. My other choice is more in line with what you're replacing, a Stanton 681EEE MKIII. It's about twice the price of the Shure and on a scale of diminishing return, the Shure will give you the most bang for the buck. ALTHOUGH, if another 75 or 80 dollars isn't a problem, I REALLY like the sound of the Stanton. But I also REALLY like the way the Shure sounds too. I'm not a cartridge expert by any means, but I have owned the Shure and listened to the Stanton for quite a few hours(both have a very sweet sound). Anyway, just my 2 cents worth. Randall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=141369 http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=20648 and of course: http://vinyl.hificlass.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSport Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Double post... Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSport Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I would second that Shure or get an Audio Technica...very popular choices for Technics TTs... Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capo72 Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Another vote for the Shure M97xE. You can't go wrong with that cart for the price. BTW what ever happened to your Thorens TD-125? Jeremy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest David H Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 The Shure M97xe is a fantastic low $$$ cart, and can be had very cheap from Amazon.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hifi jim Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Another vote for the Shure M97xe here. Can be found for as cheap as $60 sometimes with free shipping on eBay. Up from there, I like Ortofon... or Denon if you can use an MC cart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted August 10, 2009 Moderators Share Posted August 10, 2009 Got a silly question , is Shure cartriges made by the Shure microphone company ? Was just wondering ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I'm really liking the M97xE, too. It's on my Technics SL-1400MK2. Smooth and detailed sound (to my ears, at least), low surface noise, very pleasant to listen to. And it says right on the package, "Very low record wear". dtel, Shure does make both microphones and cartridges, plus headphones and earphones: http://www.shure.com/index.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted August 11, 2009 Author Share Posted August 11, 2009 Thanks guys, has anyone run the mass/compliance numbers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 The M97xE's mass is 6.6 grams and its resonant frequency is 8-10Hz. I didn't see the compliance listed anywhere, but according to a review From TNT - Belgium: Shures traditionally used to have a very high compliance, favouring tracking, but not so the M97xe which is in line with 21sth-century MM practice. With the front damping device disabled the resonant peak in my modifed RB-300 arm was at 10Hz and pretty peaky. This would preclude the use of this cartridge in the heavier arms of older turntables, as is the case with most other MMs too, but lo!, click down the damper and the peak is totally flattened, indicating more stable tracing as well. This then makes the M97xe nearly-universal in its arm compatibility. The damper brush may look ugly, but effective it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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