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Post by jimbo on Nov 14, 2020 17:42:48 GMT
I have stuck with my 2M black and the special FGS variant I had built by Hollistic Audio for some time now but feel an itch to try something else. I have in my possesion an AT95ex and M55 with Jico stylus both of which are great MM cartridges however I want to try something else and so I am asking what other MM cartridges would you recommend I consider.
So far I am thinking
2M Bronze Nagaoka MP500 Goldring 1042 or Goldring E3
Any more contenders I should consider?? 
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2020 18:26:10 GMT
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Bigman80
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The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 14, 2020 18:56:43 GMT
I have stuck with my 2M black and the special FGS variant I had built by Hollistic Audio for some time now but feel an itch to try something else. I have in my possesion an AT95ex and M55 with Jico stylus both of which are great MM cartridges however I want to try something else and so I am asking what other MM cartridges would you recommend I consider.
So far I am thinking
2M Bronze Nagaoka MP500 Goldring 1042 or Goldring E3
Any more contenders I should consider??
Soundsmith? I hear their MM are right up there, bit they aren't cheap |
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Post by rexton on Nov 14, 2020 18:58:51 GMT
Jim the Shure SC35C + JICO stylus is an amazing performer and has replaced my Ortofon Silver Meister II SPU on on Garrard 301. I'll post some pics later.
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Post by jimbo on Nov 14, 2020 19:17:51 GMT
Thanks Kevin, I have been intested in the Technics EPC-U205 so I will have a look at this cartridge. |
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Post by jimbo on Nov 14, 2020 19:18:33 GMT
Jim the Shure SC35C + JICO stylus is an amazing performer and has replaced my Ortofon Silver Meister II SPU on on Garrard 301. I'll post some pics later. I am not familiar with the Shure SC35C Andy, is it old school? |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2020 19:27:02 GMT
Thanks Kevin, I have been intested in the Technics EPC-U205 so I will have a look at this cartridge. Just bear in mind the if it has an original stylus, it is more than likely suitable for the bin. The damper perishes. You will need to find the EPC-U205 version, and then add the boron Jico Neo SAS. |
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Post by jimbo on Nov 14, 2020 19:28:30 GMT
I might pop the M55 with Jico stylus onto the VPI soon and give it a spin.
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Post by brian2957 on Nov 14, 2020 20:02:30 GMT
Yup , that might be a good idea James Have you tried the AT95ex in the VPI ? You never know |
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Post by jimbo on Nov 14, 2020 20:30:02 GMT
Yup , that might be a good idea James Have you tried the AT95ex in the VPI ? You never know I did try it when I had a mini bake off with Kevins Franken cartridges.
It sounded good but soundstage shrunk compared to the 2M black and there was way less detail. But it did turn in a decent sound.
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Post by brian2957 on Nov 14, 2020 20:52:33 GMT
Still a good cartridge for the money though |
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Post by rexton on Nov 14, 2020 21:38:58 GMT
Hi Jim,
The SC35C is the Shure V15 mk5 but just with a different name! I've replaced my M55 with this cartridge and I bought the best JICO stylus I could find. I rehoused it in a Aluminium body, bought some pure silver cartridge and then fitted the whole thing onto a Orsonic head shell. It's that good!
It now lives on my SME 3012 / Garrard 301 combo.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2020 22:09:54 GMT
Looks great at picking up the fluff!  |
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Post by jimbo on Nov 14, 2020 22:18:37 GMT
Awesome Andy!
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Post by rexton on Nov 14, 2020 22:23:55 GMT
Looks great at picking up the fluff! HAH! Yes I've been messing around with it's setup. Still playing around. |
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Post by rexton on Nov 14, 2020 22:24:54 GMT
Cheers!  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2020 10:00:50 GMT
There is an AT VM750SH for sale on the wam. About 60 hours on it, and £100 off.
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Post by robbiegong on Nov 18, 2020 21:09:15 GMT
Hey Jimbo,
Wont be easy to get a genuine mm upgrade over what you've got BUT, the Nag' 500 is their top mm and is often spoken in terms of vs the 2M Black.
I'd expect the 500 to be good and definitely different to your FGS 2MB, if different is what your after. I'm led to believe it has a richer, warmer more romantic presentation, so not as 'accurate' then as the more neutral FGS tip, but you might like that.
Only read good things about the Goldring SS-1042 and not surprised with an FGS tip on it. Not sure how similar it will be to what you already have, or if that would be too much of a sideways move.
Cartridge Man Music Maker III ? Goldring 2500 ? .....
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Post by jimbo on Nov 18, 2020 21:31:00 GMT
Hey Jimbo, Wont be easy to get a genuine mm upgrade over what you've got BUT, the Nag' 500 is their top mm and is often spoken in terms of vs the 2M Black. I'd expect the 500 to be good and definitely different to your FGS 2MB, if different is what your after. I'm led to believe it has a richer, warmer more romantic presentation, so not as 'accurate' then as the more neutral FGS tip, but you might like that. Only read good things about the Goldring SS-1042 and not surprised with an FGS tip on it. Not sure how similar it will be to what you already have, or if that would be too much of a sideways move. Cartridge Man Music Maker III ? Goldring 2500 ? ..... Thanks Rob, the Nag 500 is certainly a contender. The 2M FGS will be hard to beat in some areas but I feel it can sometimes sound a tad thin and strident. I believe the Nag 500 is more full bodied? |
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Post by robbiegong on Nov 18, 2020 21:54:04 GMT
I hear ya Jim. The thing with the FGS which is pretty much this hifi game, is that there is no such thing as a free lunch. What I mean by is that the FGS tip is what they call a sophisticated stylus tip and designed to extract as much recorded info as possible, hence it being cut to mimic the cutting lathe.
The plus side in my experience is that once you've nailed set up, you are getting accuracy like nothing else in terms of recorded info extraction, excellent, accurate and insightful replay. Now that wont suit everyone because not all recordings are great, as we know or as good as we thought.
The real down side for me though, is that nailing the sweetspot is a real PITA, like the Shibata on the 2MB ( another so called sophisticated stylus profile / microline) and that's when you get the emphasised stridency, fatigue and replay that is nothing special really. Even when you're close it still isnt quite 'it'. You definitely know when you've nailed 'it'.
These profiles are not the round coninals which are a piece of cake to set up, far less fussy but dont get right inside the recorded music/grooves the way a properly set up FGS / microline does.
It's why I cant leave 'em alone, but even I get very very tired of the demanding nature of these sophisticated stylus profiles, where I find set up and the search for the all important, but ever so narrow sweetspot, one huge PITA, a mission and a fatigue.
Be interesting to see what you end up with Jim.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2020 2:32:53 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2021 9:07:20 GMT
I had enough of messing around with hifi last year and bought a Hegel H190 and a Rega P8 pretty much all plug and play apart from a 2mm spacer to accommodate a non Rega cart and I'm very happy with it.
I'm using a Audio Technica VM series Special Line Contact stylus (VM760SLC)on an AT150EA body which is excellent previously I had the VM750SH Shibata which was very good also but the SLC is better more detailed top end and a bit more forgiving than the Shibata.
I also own a Goldring 1012 GX and am thinking about buying a 1042 stylus to give me something different can anyone explain the 1042 characteristics.
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Post by rexton on Feb 14, 2021 9:14:23 GMT
I still think the M55E is a great cartridge. It's not as good as some but does offer great flexibility. I still use my SC35C but the M55E gives me the added flexibility of replacing the stylus with a M44-1 which is the MONO stylus. So I occasionally use the M55E in MONO on the Orsonic headshell and this gives exceptional play back on pre-1970 recordings.
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Post by jimbo on Feb 14, 2021 9:18:48 GMT
I still think the M55E is a great cartridge. It's not as good as some but does offer great flexibility. I still use my SC35C but the M55E gives me the added flexibility of replacing the stylus with a M44-1 which is the MONO stylus. So I occasionally use the M55E in MONO on the Orsonic headshell and this gives exceptional play back on pre-1970 recordings. Massive fan of the M55E here Andy as I have one with a Jico cartridge, not the SAS but Jicos elliptical stylus. |
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Post by robbiegong on Feb 14, 2021 9:42:52 GMT
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Post by rexton on Feb 14, 2021 10:34:22 GMT
I've started dragging out my MONO recordings, most of which have been bought very cheaply. You can't really hear a MONO recording properly through a stereo system. I have the n44-1 and the n44-7 for newer and older recordings. Current MM carts don't offer this level of flexibility and once you factor in the cost it's a no brainer.
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