Phono Cartridges - Your favorites and least favorites?

So you’ll have to ask the specific dealer whether they support it or not but Ortofon state that they’ll give 25% off the same, or a better, cartridge.

It may be more economical to get it rebuilt by one of the specialists on that basis tbh.
You know what's funny, on their website it says you can rebuy for 25% OF cost. Which is... very different. But I figured it was a spelling error.
 
You know what's funny, on their website it says you can rebuy for 25% OF cost. Which is... very different. But I figured it was a spelling error.

Yeah I’m planning on testing a couple of rebuild services in Germany and the Netherlands with the opus and Hana and if they work out well I’ll use one for the Quintet when the time comes too.
 
SAE is next up on my Cliffwood. Opus3 is starting to wind down, and the table's due for a spindle and motor lube, by end of year!
Getting ready to do this sooner than anticipated - Opus is about cooked. Realizing the SAE didn't come with mounting hardware, and I don't think I have any washers - haven't had a cart that's needed them in quite some time. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
 
Getting ready to do this sooner than anticipated - Opus is about cooked. Realizing the SAE didn't come with mounting hardware, and I don't think I have any washers - haven't had a cart that's needed them in quite some time. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I just searched for cartridge mounting screws on eBay and found them cheap from china.
 
Getting ready to do this sooner than anticipated - Opus is about cooked. Realizing the SAE didn't come with mounting hardware, and I don't think I have any washers - haven't had a cart that's needed them in quite some time. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
I went with these from ebay. Nice set.

 
Getting ready to do this sooner than anticipated - Opus is about cooked. Realizing the SAE didn't come with mounting hardware, and I don't think I have any washers - haven't had a cart that's needed them in quite some time. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
I ordered a cartridge mounting kit off ebay - just make sure it's aluminum or non-magnetic steel.

I went with these from ebay. Nice set.

Yep, that's the one.

The SAE is also a VERY light cart, so keep that in mind when it comes to your counterweight. I installed a 1000LT on my friend's Rega P1 and we actually had to 3D-print a small headshell weight to be able to get the appropriate tracking force.
 
I ordered a cartridge mounting kit off ebay - just make sure it's aluminum or non-magnetic steel.


Yep, that's the one.

The SAE is also a VERY light cart, so keep that in mind when it comes to your counterweight. I installed a 1000LT on my friend's Rega P1 and we actually had to 3D-print a small headshell weight to be able to get the appropriate tracking force.
Thanks, gang! Yeah, that’s definitely a (small) concern. We’ll have to see. I actually saw on Music Direct’s Q&A that they say the Hana E series is too light to mount on a StudioDeck, so that raised a small flag for me that was like, well maybe I’ll have some issues getting the SAE to play ball on the Cliffwood. Definitely would be too light for the StudioDeck.
 
Thanks, gang! Yeah, that’s definitely a (small) concern. We’ll have to see. I actually saw on Music Direct’s Q&A that they say the Hana E series is too light to mount on a StudioDeck, so that raised a small flag for me that was like, well maybe I’ll have some issues getting the SAE to play ball on the Cliffwood. Definitely would be too light for the StudioDeck.

Yeah with the Hana SL I had to buy a lighter counterweight or use my Soundsmith screws because it was below 6g!
 
I’m back to running my Joseph Long/Groovetickler retipped Grado Gold3.

I hadn’t been completely thrilled with it long term, so I set it up again with the Fozgometer for azimuth and acrylic block for VTA. and that seems do have done the trick. The cartridge is now level to 3 decimal places and that’s backed up by better measurements (less crosstalk between channels).

That the azimuth is best per the Fozgometer with the cartridge perfectly level side to side also shows the high level of Joseph Long’s work. He mounted the new cantilever perfectly.
 
Thanks, gang! Yeah, that’s definitely a (small) concern. We’ll have to see. I actually saw on Music Direct’s Q&A that they say the Hana E series is too light to mount on a StudioDeck, so that raised a small flag for me that was like, well maybe I’ll have some issues getting the SAE to play ball on the Cliffwood. Definitely would be too light for the StudioDeck.
Well, the SAE mounted fine on my UltraDeck, for what that's worth. But it weighs even less than the Hana E, at 4.7g (!!).
 
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