Cartridge upgrade for P9

Colin,

I've run a Linn Klyde and a van den Hul-rebuilt Karma on my P9. Both worked well and luckily were the right size on the RB900 to not need spacers (to get VTA right) or a heavier counterweight (to balance the arm). I now run that discontinued behemoth, the Dynavector XX-1L. Of the three cartridges, the XX-1L suits the deck best but it requires spacers under the arm and a heavier counterweight.

Vuk ran a rebuilt Karma and XX-1L in his P9. He currently uses the new XX-2, which he strongly prefers to the XX-1L.

Tony ran a Lyra Lydian B, then an XX-1L (which he didn't like) and an Ortofon MC10 (which he did) until the Danish cartridge met its maker after a run in with a feather duster. (I told him to avoid kinky sex near the table, but does he listen? Noooooooooo.) I think Tony now runs an Ortofon MC25.

All listed models are MC cartridges. For MM I'd probably stick with Rega's own.

Joe

[This message was edited by Joe Petrik on TUESDAY 11 December 2001 at 14:16.]

Approx prices for XX-1L and MC25?

The cartridge doesn't have to be MM, just means changing the boards on the 72.

Anyone heard the Ortofon Kontrapunkt range of cartridges? How do they compare to the MC25?

Colin

Colin,

The XX-1L has been discontinued so if a dealer has any left in stock I think you should be able to swing a good deal. If I recall correctly, the XX-1L sold for 1,000 pounds in the Queen's country, $1,200 US in the land of the free and home of the brave, and around $2,000 Cdn in the land of snow and ice.

I don't know what the Ortofon M25 sells for but I believe it's considerably less than the XX-1L (because Tony bought one after proclaiming that he'll never again spend a king's ransom on cartridges).

Joe

Joe

Having had a similar experience with a feather duster (I said I wouldn't get into this!), I don't think that I will be shelling out a huge amount of my hard earned tax free US dollars on a cartridge!

Sadly, I wasn't having kinky sex at the time of the 'accident' with my original cartridge, otherwise I may have seen the funnier side of shelling out for a new one!

Cheers

Colin

The MC25FL costs between about 180 and 300 quid dependant on where you buy it and what you part ex for it - I paid £185 plus the freshly dusted MC10 Supreme. I honestly don't know which is the better cartridge between the two, I have changed way to many other things in my system to judge, there is not much difference in price, the 10 Supreme is about 30 quid more. Both need about 4mm spacers which is a drag.

There is very strong talk on the street that Rega are about to release a MC cartridge for the new P9 when it comes out, so if your Exact has a few more miles left I may be tempted to hold on and see what it's like.

Tony.

You could be cast down as a heretic for even suggesting such a thing! I thought rega was to MC what naim is to non-DIN connections?

About time IMHO! Could be an interesting product. is this to coincide with a new P9 (of which i have heard rumours)?

Colin