Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

[MikeH]

Think it's time for a new cartridge (or stylus) for me for my secondary setup. Currently have the Grado Gold 3 and I like the sound of it but open to trying something new (or I think there's a stylus upgrade IIRC?). I am running the MF LX-LPS preamp and a rebuilt Thorens with the rega moth rb-202 tonearm.

Any recommendations?

 

[Mr Moustache]

Think it's time for a new cartridge (or stylus) for me for my secondary setup. Currently have the Grado Gold 3 and I like the sound of it but open to trying something new (or I think there's a stylus upgrade IIRC?). I am running the MF LX-LPS preamp and a rebuilt Thorens with the rega moth rb-202 tonearm.

Any recommendations?

Budget? Hana gets a lot of love here recently. @AnthonyI also recommend Goldring 1042.

 

[MikeH]

Budget? Hana gets a lot of love here recently. @AnthonyI also recommend Goldring 1042.

Probably $300-$500 at most? I was going to start looking at the Hana and Goldrings but not sure how good the compliance is with my arm + phono stage.

 

[Joe Mac]

Probably $300-$500 at most? I was going to start looking at the Hana and Goldrings but not sure how good the compliance is with my arm + phono stage.

Have you thought about just doing the 8mz stylus swap. Would cost you the same as a Gold 3 replacement and from my experience was a decent jump. The Grado opus 3 is pretty damn good too.

 

[MikeH]

Have you thought about just doing the 8mz stylus swap. Would cost you the same as a Gold 3 replacement and from my experience was a decent jump. The Grado opus 3 is pretty damn good too.

yea the 8mz was what i was originally considering doing, but also wouldn't mind trying a whole new brand/cart...i've got the "itis"

 

[Joe Mac]

yea the 8mz was what i was originally considering doing, but also wouldn't mind trying a whole new brand/cart...i've got the "itis"

I get that! The Hana SL has cured me of that for now…

 

[AnthonyI]

yea the 8mz was what i was originally considering doing, but also wouldn't mind trying a whole new brand/cart...i've got the "itis"

Sent you a message

 

[AnthonyI]

Sent you a message

I knew that was going to be @Joe Mac's reaction, lol

 

[HiFi Guy]

yea the 8mz was what i was originally considering doing, but also wouldn't mind trying a whole new brand/cart...i've got the "itis"

If you go 8MZ, I’d love your worn out stylus to use as a donor for a rebuild/upgrade.

 

[Angsty]

If you go 8MZ, I’d love your worn out stylus to use as a donor for a rebuild/upgrade.

A donor? …

 

[MikeH]

If you go 8MZ, I’d love your worn out stylus to use as a donor for a rebuild/upgrade.

I’ll let ya know!

 

[Joe Mac]

If you go 8MZ, I’d love your worn out stylus to use as a donor for a rebuild/upgrade.

I have a worn out gold stylus from my old gold 2 that you are welcome to if it’s of any use.

 

[MikeH]

Anybody smarter than me know if the LX-LPS and the Hana EL are a good match? It does have MC loading plugs but I don’t know much about impedance and all that jazz…

https://www.musicalfidelity.com/uploads/catalogerfiles/lx-lps/5_MF_LX-LPS_Flier_v1_web.pdf

 

[Joe Mac]

Anybody smarter than me know if the LX-LPS and the Hana EL are a good match? It does have MC loading plugs but I don’t know much about impedance and all that jazz…

https://www.musicalfidelity.com/uploads/catalogerfiles/lx-lps/5_MF_LX-LPS_Flier_v1_web.pdf

Not really. It doesn’t offer the flexibility with the loading. It’s set at 100 ohms and the EL wants a minimum of 400 ohms, like the SL, and I’d guess that, also like the SL it’s probably happiest around 800 ohms.

You could run the EH on the MM settings but at 2mV output, and no dB boost on the LPS, you will need to crank the amp more than you’re currently used to with the Grado Gold and it’s 5mV output.

 

[Jbraswell]

I don't think anyone else on here is running a DL-103R that I've seen.
It's probably the best bang for the buck out on MCs. Competitive in sound with the $$$$ carts.
Matching to tonearm mass, etc is out of my area of expertise.
It likes a medium to heavy arm setup.

 

[HiFi Guy]

I have a worn out gold stylus from my old gold 2 that you are welcome to if it’s of any use.

I’d love to have it. Let new know postage cost. I’ll send a DM.

 

[AnthonyI]

Not really. It doesn’t offer the flexibility with the loading. It’s set at 100 ohms and the EL wants a minimum of 400 ohms, like the SL, and I’d guess that, also like the SL it’s probably happiest around 800 ohms.

You could run the EH on the MM settings but at 2mV output, and no dB boost on the LPS, you will need to crank the amp more than you’re currently used to with the Grado Gold and it’s 5mV output.

I haven't had mine in quite some time, but didn't the load "plugs" give it a bit more flexibility? Now, how much I can't recall, but I had mentioned to @MikeH to look into it.

 

[MikeH]

I haven't had mine in quite some time, but didn't the load "plugs" give it a bit more flexibility? Now, how much I can't recall, but I had mentioned to @MikeH to look into it.

Yea it has:

2 x100Ω RCA Plugs (Green for MC loading)
2 x47pF RCA Plugs (Blue for MM loading)

But not sure how close that gets me

 

[AnthonyI]

Yea it has:

2 x100Ω RCA Plugs (Green for MC loading)
2 x47pF RCA Plugs (Blue for MM loading)

But not sure how close that gets me

I could swear mine came with more than those you listed, a 200, 500 and IK ohm. But no, what you have won't cut it for the EL unfortunately.

 

[Angsty]

I could swear mine came with more than those you listed, a 200, 500 and IK ohm. But no, what you have won't cut it for the EL unfortunately.

It does seem like some older units did indeed ship with more plugs, including an "open" plug that you could insert your own resistors or capacitors into.

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