Moving Coils

All general audio posts go here.
User avatar
Latteman
Posts: 1220
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2018 7:20 pm
Location: S. Yorkshire
Has thanked: 553 times
Been thanked: 297 times
Contact:
Great Britain

Moving Coils

Unread post by Latteman »

Hi all
I’ve not had many mc, those I have had were ‘used’, mainly Ortofon MC series and a homc Dynavector something or other- I had AT 005. & 009 many years ago and I remember liking the 005
I have a selection of mm I like
Nagaoka mp200sb; ADC phase 4; Grado Prestige Gold & a wood body Re tipped
I’d like to get a ‘classic’ lomc - what do u remember about the linn mcs- missed out on an Asak recently
Any other manufacturer I need to consider- I realise I may need to retip - so looking for a good engine so to speak
Cheers
Analogue Source -
Denon DP47f- Ortofon mc20 supreme
Ifi Zen Phono
Doug Self balanced Pre amp
Akai 4000DS mk2 R2R
Digital Sources- IfI stream, Ifi Neo idsd Dac; Tidal / Radio Paradise
Amplification Nva 30vdc mono blocks
Speakers Lii Audio F-15 in Open Baffle; Ls6
Weiduka AC8.8- for digital sources
Mini BMU for analog sources

TheMarlin
Posts: 1673
Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 4:43 pm
Location: London-ish, or thereabouts
Has thanked: 614 times
Been thanked: 2093 times
Great Britain

Re: Moving Coils

Unread post by TheMarlin »

Lyra make fantastic MC Carts,
These users thanked the author TheMarlin for the post:
Latteman (Mon Mar 22, 2021 9:38 am)
Modded Belles A150 MK2, P90SA, & NVA SSP cables, and LS5.
Leak Stereo 20 & First Audio Classic Copper V2
Modded Lenco GL75 with Saturn arm, heavy custom plinth. Nagaoka MP500.
Nottingham Audio Hyperspace + heavy kit, + Origin Live Conqueror + Koetsu Black
Tom Evans Micro Grove MK2 MC phono
Bluesound Node2i (x2) both with latest power upgrades.
Topping D90MQA and Topping D90SE
Audiolab 6000 CDT transport.
All NVA cables

Daniel Quinn
Posts: 8586
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2012 7:16 am
Has thanked: 24 times
Been thanked: 399 times

Re: Moving Coils

Unread post by Daniel Quinn »

I would make sure it as a boron cantilever and a fine line diamond.

Boron is used in every manufacturers top of the range cartridge regardless of price .

Im yet to be convinced the generator and coils of different manufacturers result in significantly different sound.
These users thanked the author Daniel Quinn for the post:
Latteman (Mon Mar 22, 2021 11:19 am)

Alfi
Posts: 1137
Joined: Sat Jun 08, 2013 11:01 am
Location: Kidwelly, West Wales
Has thanked: 14 times
Been thanked: 11 times
Contact:
Wales

Re: Moving Coils

Unread post by Alfi »

I like carts with boron cantilevers - I'm lucky to have few here...

AT OC7, AT PTG33, Benz Micro Glyder and a yet to be fully "broken in" Dynavector XX2.

Best to my ears ATM is the Benz Glyder. So nicely balanced and dynamic but not much protection against damage though! Strangely enough the Benz is mounted on an arm that's not generally accepted to be any good, a late model black wand SME Series III, go figure!

Top of the line Soundsmith carts use a particular species of cactus needle for a cantilever, way out of my league price wise. I also like what Peter Lederman has to say about most things analogue.


Alfi.
Last edited by Alfi on Mon Mar 22, 2021 11:59 am, edited 3 times in total.
These users thanked the author Alfi for the post (total 2):
Latteman (Mon Mar 22, 2021 3:14 pm) • NSNO2021 (Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:06 pm)
I am in the hi-fi trade.
Status: Manufacturer.
Company Name: Analogue innovation.

User avatar
savvypaul
Posts: 8633
Joined: Tue Oct 11, 2016 7:14 pm
Location: Durham
Has thanked: 1657 times
Been thanked: 2978 times
Contact:
Great Britain

Re: Moving Coils

Unread post by savvypaul »

A 'classic' is the Denon 103...it's enjoyable on it's own terms, and a bit of a bargain, but it does not have the precision of the fine line diamonds.

The 103R is reported to be a (bit of a ) step in that direction.
These users thanked the author savvypaul for the post (total 2):
Alfi (Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:00 pm) • Latteman (Mon Mar 22, 2021 3:14 pm)
I am in the hi-fi trade
Status: Manufacturer
Company Name: NVA Hi-Fi
https://nvahifi.co.uk/

Alfi
Posts: 1137
Joined: Sat Jun 08, 2013 11:01 am
Location: Kidwelly, West Wales
Has thanked: 14 times
Been thanked: 11 times
Contact:
Wales

Re: Moving Coils

Unread post by Alfi »

Indeed.

I've had (and broken) a few of these classics over the years and can vouch that the R version is a slightly better performer. Just a big shame Denon don't make them with a better "FL" stylus and a boron cantilever.

Alfi
These users thanked the author Alfi for the post:
Latteman (Mon Mar 22, 2021 3:14 pm)
I am in the hi-fi trade.
Status: Manufacturer.
Company Name: Analogue innovation.

Vinyl-ant
Posts: 765
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2017 12:51 pm
Location: South yorkshire
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 363 times
Contact:
Great Britain

Re: Moving Coils

Unread post by Vinyl-ant »

For not a great deal of money, an audio technica at-f7 is good first step, for more, an at33ptg doesnt have many peers at the money. Up from that there is the 33sa and the hana sl.
The 33 ptg is the best value for money of those 4 in my opinion

Ive had some good luck and bad luck with second hand carts, i now prefer to buy new, or if second hand, i much prefer to buy from someone who i know rather than ebay. A retip can cost what a new cart does in the first place, and oldies can have question marks over the internals. No way to check, one persons 'fine' is usually my 'broken' these days, so be very sure you want something second hand or know the seller and ideally the history of the cart.
Not everyone is honest
These users thanked the author Vinyl-ant for the post:
Latteman (Mon Mar 22, 2021 3:14 pm)
Analogue: oracle delphi sme 309, jbe series 3 cx unipivot dv20x2l, roksan xerxes tabriz vm750, jvc ql-y5f rigb at440, jvc ql-y3f vm750, lenco 75, technics sl150

Phono stages: cole lcr, benedict audio hothead

Digital: cyrus cd7, wiim mini x2, topping e30, jds labs el dac 2+

Amplification: nelson pass b1, nelson pass f5

Speakers: 15" fane aperiodic wardrobes

Cans: myryad z40, hifiman sundara + deva, fostex t50rp, sennheiser momentum on ear +over ear, b&w p5 and p7

User avatar
Latteman
Posts: 1220
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2018 7:20 pm
Location: S. Yorkshire
Has thanked: 553 times
Been thanked: 297 times
Contact:
Great Britain

Re: Moving Coils

Unread post by Latteman »

The Denon is one I’ve resisted over the years- also the Sumiko BPS
Might just go the Denon route
The range of ortofon mcs also are interesting
Cheers all
Analogue Source -
Denon DP47f- Ortofon mc20 supreme
Ifi Zen Phono
Doug Self balanced Pre amp
Akai 4000DS mk2 R2R
Digital Sources- IfI stream, Ifi Neo idsd Dac; Tidal / Radio Paradise
Amplification Nva 30vdc mono blocks
Speakers Lii Audio F-15 in Open Baffle; Ls6
Weiduka AC8.8- for digital sources
Mini BMU for analog sources

antonio66
Posts: 1006
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2019 8:16 am
Location: Grimsby/Phnom Penh
Has thanked: 1449 times
Been thanked: 408 times
Great Britain

Re: Moving Coils

Unread post by antonio66 »

Good choice Latteman, Ant's suggestion should also be considered as well as AT's new OC9 series if you want to spend a little more.

User avatar
Neonknight
Posts: 467
Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2016 1:49 am
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 54 times

Re: Moving Coils

Unread post by Neonknight »

For an affordable price tag its my opinion that the Audio Technica cartridges offer a lot of value. You can start with the 33 series of cartridges, and the PTG II is a solid value for around $500 or less. The newly released OC9 line also has some great values in it, and would be a fine choice. The ART 9 cartridges are considered excellent at the $1000 USD price range, and very competitive with other "high end" cartridges. Lots of value here.

Looks like we are using a Lenco arm? If you need lower compliance cartridges, a hot rodded Denon DL 103 is a solid choice. Especially if you can source a body and get it fitted with a higher grade diamond, such as a good line contact. I would try to keep an aluminum cantilever on it though as that is how the cartridge is voiced. Changing the body to a wood or aluminum one from after market companies is also a nice little upgrade.

The Hana cartridges are also worth looking at. An Excel Co product, you get a solid Japanese builder with a lot of years of experience.

I suspect Benz Micro or even Ortofon would be easy for you to source, and more affordable than what is in the US. I believe Ortofon has a bargain site where they sell refurbished older offerings at attractive prices.

Finally, we should not forget Goldring! Solid offerings there too.
These users thanked the author Neonknight for the post:
Latteman (Tue Mar 23, 2021 7:46 am)

Post Reply