Tarheel Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Ha.....I knew you would peek Thinking about cartridges and some of the favorites are getting kind of long in the tooth. Anything new and special in the sub $500 category? Wondering too what Dave's impression of the Ortofon 2M Black is after some play time (yes I know it's north of $500). What do you guys really like and why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Of the two people I know using the ortophon, I haven't heard a bad thing yet. Personally I like the shibata stylus cartridges. You can get an AT for less than the ortophon in your category. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Wondering too what Dave's impression of the Ortofon 2M Black is after some play time They'll pry it from my cold, dead hand... Got my K'horns and I was done with speakers. 2M Black and likewise with cartridges. Are there others at higher prices that might be better? Probably, but given you'd need more TT than I could afford and I'd find those improvements marginal at best...I am done! Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Gotta say I really like my Ortofon Blue....for the money, it's pretty darn nice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Gotta say I really like my Ortofon Blue....for the money, it's pretty darn nice. At the time, I did the Black because I had a fat bonus to spend my share of. My understanding is the difference is largely the Shibata cut of the Black. Fact that the stylus replacement is 500.00 would support that. Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Shibata's rule. But not all are that expensive to replace. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Travis In Austin Posted March 30, 2016 Moderators Share Posted March 30, 2016 2013 TAS under 500 recommendations http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/2013-tas-editors-choice-awards-cartridges-under-500/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Travis In Austin Posted March 30, 2016 Moderators Share Posted March 30, 2016 Analog planet, http://www.analogplanet.com/content/gruvy-awards-cartridges#Qh4PbTwTGIYP0cEe.97 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Travis In Austin Posted March 30, 2016 Moderators Share Posted March 30, 2016 Ha.....I knew you would peek Thinking about cartridges and some of the favorites are getting kind of long in the tooth. Anything new and special in the sub $500 category? Wondering too what Dave's impression of the Ortofon 2M Black is after some play time (yes I know it's north of $500). What do you guys really like and why? What are you going to put it on? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eth2 Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 I am happy with mine as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbphoto Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Currently have the blue on my VPI Scout. Great bang for the buck. Thinking about upgrading to the black for its alleged superior tracking ability in tough passages and on the inner grooves. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter1104 Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 (edited) I currently have the black, the Soundsmith Zephyr and the DV 2X HO. I have used them all on my VPI Classic II. Of the 3, the black is my favorite. Edited March 31, 2016 by Sprinter1104 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 (edited) Ha.....I knew you would peek Thinking about cartridges and some of the favorites are getting kind of long in the tooth. Anything new and special in the sub $500 category? Wondering too what Dave's impression of the Ortofon 2M Black is after some play time (yes I know it's north of $500). What do you guys really like and why? What are you going to put it on? Hey Travis.....should I buy one it will go on a Denon DP-1250 direct drive with a low mass ADC arm. I bought it refurbished around 2006 and it was basically a DP-1100 but without an arm. Lots of folks installed the Grace 707 with success. The table is fully manual and was near the top of the Denon line. It holds speed perfectly. I have used a Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge ($800) for 7 or 8 years and was thinking the hours on the cartridge may be getting on up there. I don't listen to vinyl a lot but sat and listened to 3 lps back to back at a good volume. I thought it sounded great! I know its about $500 to retip . Frankly I wonder if that's too much cartridge for the Denon. Edited March 31, 2016 by Tarheel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebuy Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 The headline made me laugh--Some of us used Vinyl before you were born. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 (edited) Ha.....I knew you would peek Thinking about cartridges and some of the favorites are getting kind of long in the tooth. Anything new and special in the sub $500 category? Wondering too what Dave's impression of the Ortofon 2M Black is after some play time (yes I know it's north of $500). What do you guys really like and why? What are you going to put it on? Hey Travis.....should I buy one it will go on a Denon DP-1250 direct drive with a low mass ADC arm. I bought it refurbished around 2006 and it was basically a DP-1100 but without an arm. Lots of folks installed the Grace 707 with success. The table is fully manual and was near the top of the Denon line. It holds speed perfectly. I have used a Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge ($800) for 7 or 8 years and was thinking the hours on the cartridge may be getting on up there. I don't listen to vinyl a lot but sat and listened to 3 lps back to back at a good volume. I thought it sounded great! I know its about $500 to retip . Frankly I wonder if that's too much cartridge for the Denon. You may be able to retip for cheaper, there are a few guys around that do it for about $150.00 with no issues. Soundsmith may be around $350.00. Since I got back into vinyl, I have tried a boat load of cartridges. The 2M Black is very nice, the Bronze as well on records that aren't top notch, as well as the Ortofon OM40 (Black), and OM30 (Bronze). I have a Digitrac I am selling which is the 2M Bronze and OM30 before they were what they are. It's made by Ortofon and is a nude super elliptical tip and can be done with new replaceable stylus.It's brand new in the box with all equipment. I am selling as I already have the other 2 that are comparable. I also have the ADC XLM MKII improved and MKIII with shibata stylus and redone custom line trace (each one was $150.00 to retip). Stanton 681EEE with an original 6800EEE stylus that I had retipped with a line trace as it was worn out ($150.00), a 681EEE with a Jico D6800EEE Shibata ($144.00 for stylus). Then there is 2 Ortofon VMS 20E MKII carts,one has the original 20E MKII stylus, and one has an upgraded 30E MKII Jico stylus ($67.00).These are moving iron carts and are very open and detailed. I actually like the VMS30E MKII better than the 2M Black and OM40 as it has slightly more to it in the high end to my ears. I have 2 Stanton 881S MKII's with an original D81S stylus, and a custom D81S stylus that was redone with a cactus cantilever and shibata tip ($165.00) For MC, I have 2. Both are from SAE (Coral), the 1000LT HOMC,and the 900LT LOMC. They are LT tips as well. I've tried many more in the last 18 months, but keep coming back to the shibata and line trace tips more than the others, and seem to like the moving iron more than the others.Any of the cartridges I have can be purchased for less than $500.00,and even with upgrades will be less than that. I don't seem to like the Japanese carts as much as they usually have slightly less output and are blander to me. I tried the Denon DL-110 and didn't like it, the SAE 1000LT blew it away. I've tried AT (11,12,13,14,15,series) and didn't like the sound either,not bad, just bland to me.Having said this, the Jico stylus are wonderful. You'll notice almost all my carts are from the 80's as well. Everything I have tried that's newer gets sold and I keep going back to those carts. If you're curious on pricing for a retip,let me know and I will get you names of the people who do it, 2 are in the UK, 1 The Netherlands, and 2 here. I f you like your cart that much, do the retip. I have a JVC 4MD-20X which I just purchased that the seller lied about on the stylus.He refunded my money and said keep it. It is identical to the AT 14Sa (AT14S stylus). You can have it for free.You'll just need a stylus which you can get for about $100.00 on the bay. The JVC is made by AT, but the specks on this are better than the AT specks, and this is a $350.00 cart. One thing I forgot to mention, I have 3 tables, a Dual 701, Hitachi HT-500, and JVC JL-F45.2 of the 3 tables have LM arms and all these carts do very well on them.The 3 carts on them seem to have a better bass response,clear mids and highs and are very open musically offering an almost 3d image.With my tubes, they are even more open and on the SET give excellent imaging. Edited March 31, 2016 by Jim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 The headline made me laugh--Some of us used Vinyl before you were born. Damn....you're old. I'm 67. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 FYI, in case anyone is interested; I have a source that was able to sell me the 2M Black for $475-$500 new. I have asked if they are still available and the current price. I'll let you know when I hear back from him. Mike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 Thanks for your comments Jim! Back in the 70s I had a Pickering with a brush like the one on your Stanton. I gave a Thorens TD-165 to someone here on the forum.....can't remember who but it included a Stanton 500. That combo wasn't that good as I recall. Thanks Mike....there are a couple of guys on ebay with 100% feedback (Japaan, Germany) selling them for $356 new in unopened box....$11 shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 Mike....did you sell your vinyl gear? I think I recall that you did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 (edited) ^^ Yep, all gone^^ BTW, I accidently saw the invoice for my 2M Black; it was $275 to my dealer Edited March 31, 2016 by USNRET 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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