Phono Cartridges - Your favorites and least favorites?

[budley007]

The SL is a significant upgrade over the UltraTracker. I have no experience with the ML, but it's pedigree and popularity make it a great choice if money is not a problem. When I purchased my SL (Mk1), the ML was out of my budget, but I still don't feel as if I settled for a lesser cartridge. It sounds exceptional on my Ultradeck.

Although, and maybe this is just me, but knowing what I know now and after swapping out a few carts, I wish I had found the extra funds for the ML. Handling those tiny screws while mounting the SL has probably affected my life expectancy in a detrimental way. The ML has a threaded body. Godsend!

 

[Lacubrious]

Welllllllllllll.

I just pulled the pin on the ML before sales ended and it is being sent to me. Now to deep dive into learning the intricacies of installing a new cart.

I'm going in...

 

[OMC]

Welllllllllllll.

I just pulled the pin on the ML before sales ended and it is being sent to me. Now to deep dive into learning the intricacies of installing a new cart.

I'm going in...

Straight, sober, clean glasses if needed, Optivisor, good setup jig, good lighting, patience and more patience. Piece of cake! Good luck.

 

[SnowmaNick]

Straight, sober, clean glasses if needed, Optivisor, good setup jig, good lighting, patience and more patience. Piece of cake! Good luck.

Don’t forget patience.

 

[kvetcha]

I find bent-nose pliers to be extremely helpful.

 

[OMC]

I find bent-nose pliers to be extremely helpful.

For what purpose, tonearm wire clips to cartridge pins?

 

[kvetcha]

For what purpose, tonearm wire clips to cartridge pins?

Yep.

 

[Jbraswell]

Sent two AT carts off to Hifi Heaven to see if we can work out a really nice trade they quoted.


First time to mount this ol Denon on the G.

It's impressive sounding. Warm and really good bottom end.
Reminds me why this one cart roped me into this vinyl addiction.

 

[Lacubrious]

OMG guys. It came… and so might I.


When I can find the time to install.

 

[kvetcha]

OMG guys. It came… and so might I.
View attachment 220858

When I can find the time to install.

for my money, the Hanas are the prettiest carts on the market.

 

[Nee Lewman]

for my money, the Hanas are the prettiest carts on the market.

But they don’t look like Cyclops Duck!

 

[kvetcha]

But they don’t look like Cyclops Duck!

The SoundSmiths took charisma as their dump stat

 

[Mather]

But they don’t look like Cyclops Duck!

 

[Angsty]

The SL is a significant upgrade over the UltraTracker. I have no experience with the ML, but it's pedigree and popularity make it a great choice if money is not a problem. When I purchased my SL (Mk1), the ML was out of my budget, but I still don't feel as if I settled for a lesser cartridge. It sounds exceptional on my Ultradeck.

Although, and maybe this is just me, but knowing what I know now and after swapping out a few carts, I wish I had found the extra funds for the ML. Handling those tiny screws while mounting the SL has probably affected my life expectancy in a detrimental way. The ML has a threaded body. Godsend!

I have both the SL and the ML - I don't plan to get rid of either. I'll just keep re-tipping them!
The SL sounds close to the ML on my Traveler, but the Luxman makes the ML sound distinctly better.

 

[kvetcha]

I have both the SL and the ML - I don't plan to get rid of either. I'll just keep re-tipping them!
The SL sounds close to the ML on my Traveler, but the Luxman makes the ML sound distinctly better.

I don’t own a Hana yet, but my SAE uses the same generator; I’m thinking of getting a fancy retip from Groovetickler and seeing what a giant-killer it is.

 

[Angsty]

I don’t own a Hana yet, but my SAE uses the same generator; I’m thinking of getting a fancy retip from Groovetickler and seeing what a giant-killer it is.

I have both of the SAEs from the massive sale a couple of years ago, but neither has been on a turntable of mine yet. It's possible that I might not have purchased the Hanas if I had the SAEs first. They're waiting as backups for when the Hanas need a break; they were cheaper than a retip.

 

[kvetcha]

I have both of the SAEs from the massive sale a couple of years ago, but neither has been on a turntable of mine yet. It's possible that I might not have purchased the Hanas if I had the SAEs first. They're waiting as backups for when the Hanas need a break; they were cheaper than a retip.

I had a conversation with GT on Instagram and he said he personally prefers the voicing in the SAE. He’s almost got me convinced to refit it with a boron cantilever and Gyger S Special Line Contact stylus.

 

[kvetcha]

(The LT is an aluminum cantilever with a nude Shibata, stock)

 

[Joe Mac]

(The LT is an aluminum cantilever with a nude Shibata, stock)

If you do just be careful with the boron cantilever, it’s really delicate…

 

[kvetcha]

If you do just be careful with the boron cantilever, it’s really delicate…

I'm still deciding how far I wanna go. I love the stock arrangement so it's possible I'd just do Aluminum cantilever/Gyger. But a more exotic cantilever sounds kinda fun...

the SoundSmith has a sapphire cantilever and it does make me a little bit nervous sometimes.