High end cartridge in low end TT: worth the buy?

[adk highlander]

Hi all and especially @TLS Guy I have found a deal offering an Ortophon 2M black on a denon dp-400 TT for just 900. The cart alone usually sells for 700.

 

[Verdinut]

It isn't worth spending that much money for a cartridge to be used with the Denon DP-400. IMO, an affordable Grado cartridge should be sufficient to provide a satisfactory performance. I don't know much about the currently produced Ortofon cartridges, but their 2M Red one might do an adequate job.

It's unfortunate that Shure stopped the production of excellent affordable products. There is one of their M97xE brand new for sale on eBay. I use one in my system. It's an amazing product:

Shure M97xE HiFi Cartridge w/ Stylus MM Moving Magnet Elliptical / New Sealed | eBay

The Shure M97xE HiFi Cartridge with Stylus is a moving magnet elliptical cartridge in black color designed for Shure turntables. It is a new and sealed product, delivering high-fidelity sound reproduction for your audio setup.

www.ebay.com

However, @TLS Guy will surely be in a better position to answer you for both a turntable and a decent affordable cartridge.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hi all and especially @TLS Guy I have found a deal offering an Ortophon 2M black on a denon dp-400 TT for just 900. The cart alone usually sells for 700.

The Ortofon black is a high compliance cartridge, and the closest replacement for the Shure V15xmr. I don't know that turntable, but it is semi automatic. That means the cartridge has to pull extraneous mechanisms, so depending on the extra inertia of that, a high compliance cartridge might not be a good match and conceivably could be damaging. The Ortofon Black is best matched with a low mass and low inertia tone arm. I personally have a dislike of semi automatic turntables.

 

[adk highlander]

Thanks @Verdinut and @TLS Guy . I feel like I am leaving something on the table with such a low end TT with the rest of my setup. I missed a great deal on a marantz TT15. I have about 1k to spend now so I was half thinking that denon with the black then sell both tables and I am ahead for the price of the cart and then drop another 1.5k on just a nice TT. No hurry so will stand down on that buy. I can also get the bronze with that same TT for just 750.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks @Verdinut and @TLS Guy . I feel like I am leaving something on the table with such a low end TT with the rest of my setup. I missed a great deal on a marantz TT15. I have about 1k to spend now so I was half thinking that denon with the black then sell both tables and I am ahead for the price of the cart and then drop another 1.5k on just a nice TT. No hurry so will stand down on that buy. I can also get the bronze with that same TT for just 750.

I think this would be a very nice turntable for you.

 

[Squishman]

I think this would be a very nice turntable for you.

I am sure it is a super fine turntable, but I am glad I didn't buy one with an outboard motor on the corner like that. It wouldn't easily accommodate a Dust Bug which I learned about after I purchased my ProJect.

 

[Alex2507]

 

[adk highlander]

View attachment 72031

I don't know. If it doesn't have Mary had a little lamb, I am out.

 

[highfigh]

The Ortofon black is a high compliance cartridge, and the closest replacement for the Shure V15xmr. I don't know that turntable, but it is semi automatic. That means the cartridge has to pull extraneous mechanisms, so depending on the extra inertia of that, a high compliance cartridge might not be a good match and conceivably could be damaging. The Ortofon Black is best matched with a low mass and low inertia tone arm. I personally have a dislike of semi automatic turntables.

There's no reason it has to pull anything- turntables have had photo-cells to activate the return mechanism for more than 40 years. I don't know if this has a photo-cell, but at $499 retail price, it easily could.

 

[highfigh]

I don't know. If it doesn't have Mary had a little lamb, I am out.

Buddy Guy's version that was covered by Stevie Ray Vaughnn?

 

[highfigh]

I am sure it is a super fine turntable, but I am glad I didn't buy one with an outboard motor on the corner like that. It wouldn't easily accommodate a Dust Bug which I learned about after I purchased my ProJect.

The Dust Bug could be placed behind the speed control at the left front corner of the U-Turn table.

 

[adk highlander]

Thanks all. I was lucky to get a little extra cash in a check from the house sale. So I went all out and pre-ordered the Rega Planar 3 RS. I think it will get me the sonics and esthetics I want with my system.

 

[Alex2507]

I think it will get me the sonics and esthetics I want with my system.

Wow! Ken probably started off like this.

There really is a beauty to good gear.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks all. I was lucky to get a little extra cash in a check from the house sale. So I went all out and pre-ordered the Rega Planar 3 RS. I think it will get me the sonics and esthetics I want with my system.

What cartridge did you get with it?

 

[adk highlander]

What cartridge did you get with it?

The Nd5 MM. It comes as a package with the upgraded belt and external speed/power control.

 

[TLS Guy]

The Nd5 MM. It comes as a package with the upgraded belt and external speed/power control.

Rega cartridges have a good reputation, but I have never heard or seen one.

 

[adk highlander]

Rega cartridges have a good reputation, but I have never heard or seen one.

We will see. Says it is handmade etc. and the few reviews are positive. Can't find a retail price of the cart by itself in the US.

 

[Mikado463]

Congrats and good luck with your combo, what's your phono-pre again ? We look forward to seeing the pics all set up !