Cheap MC cartridge options

Posted by: Jellyheadjeff on 23 September 2001

I've mentioned this as part of another thread but had few takers. I have just bought a s/h NAC52 with NA523s. However I currently have a MM (LP12/Valhalla/Ittok/K9. Therefore I either need to buy a MM phono stage (NA522 or Stageline or others - please suggest) or switch to a MC cartridge. Sadly my use of the LP12 has diminished to very occasional at best so I am keen to keep any outlay to a minimum.

Are there any viable budget MC cartridge options I should consider (as a 522 would cost me around £80+ I would limit consideration of other options at a max of £200. I was interested to see that from a previous thread you can purchase a OC9 for $199 - never heard it but sounds cheap for an item that used to sell for alot more 10 odd years ago - is it still the same product? Are there any £100-150 MC cartridges these days (I'm thinking of the OC5/OC7 days)?

Cheers

Jeff

Posted on: 24 September 2001 by mr saucisson

Jeff

If you are happy to stay with the same cartridge, in the light of your very occasional use, you can get the 522 boards needed for £40-45 from www.emporium.dircon.co.uk. I know this chap has them - he told me so. Don't email him, give him a call as he takes about a month to get back to you on email!

Ben

Posted on: 24 September 2001 by Martin Payne

I really loved my OC9 in Valhalla/Ittok setup.

I reckon it's a bargain at £130-£140.

The OC9 is miles better than a K9 - you'll love it.

cheers, Martin

Posted on: 24 September 2001 by Phil Barry

When I got my 82, it had the 523K boards and I had a Grado Sonata - high output MM!

Strangely, the K's overloaded very gracefully - there was just a touch of lost detail and dynamics. I only ran it that way for a short while, of course, but it was very usable.

Phil

Posted on: 24 September 2001 by Alex S.

I tried to e-mail this but failed.

If you are at all interested either in rebuilt Troikas done by Expert Stylus or in the DV20X-H which I now have sitting around then e-mail me.

The DV is widely regarded as the best of the cheap MCs. The H version is high output so you need MM boards for it.

Alex

ps Ben Hicks sounds strangely familiar - Hi Ben.

Posted on: 24 September 2001 by mr saucisson

Hi Alex

Had to give Jeff that "source" as the only other seam of 5 series boards I know is mined out!

Ben

Posted on: 24 September 2001 by Rico

OC-9, Ortofon 25FL, or Ortofon 10/15 (What is it you run, TimO?)... just for starters.

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Posted on: 25 September 2001 by Sean P

If Jeff isn't interested in the DYNAVECTOR the I may be. How old, How many hours has it run etc.

Email me direct if you like.

Sean P Mc Gibbon

Posted on: 26 September 2001 by Alex S.

To clear up any confusion

Alex

Posted on: 28 September 2001 by Chris Dolan

I know you said £200 max but.....have a listen to a DV-20X L. I am very impressed with mine.

Chris

Posted on: 29 September 2001 by JosephR

quote:
Originally posted by Martin Payne:
I really loved my OC9 in Valhalla/Ittok setup.
I reckon it's a bargain at £130-£140.
The OC9 is miles better than a K9 - you'll love it.
cheers, Martin

I have to agree with Martin, The OC9-ML that I have is a superb match with the 52's "K" board, and a friend affirmed that it really sings with a Prefix "K".

But if you don't have enough bass, the Dynavector DV20X-L has a lot (overblown in my system, though).

Or what about a Dyna 10X4 MK2 with an MM board? But the OC9 is the better cart over these 2, and is almost like my previous Transfiguration Spirit ...

Posted on: 29 September 2001 by Jellyheadjeff

I am tempted by an OC9 at that price but how would that cart work with the standard 'S' phono boards (that's what I've got)?

I don't think lack of bass is a problem in my system (especially since adding the 52 which has deepened the bass further).

Jeff

Posted on: 29 September 2001 by JosephR

quote:
Originally posted by Jellyheadjeff:
I am tempted by an OC9 at that price but how would that cart work with the standard 'S' phono boards (that's what I've got)?
I don't think lack of bass is a problem in my system (especially since adding the 52 which has deepened the bass further).
Jeff

It will still work with the "S", which has the same gain specs as the "K" i.e. for low-output carts. It's just that the "K" has a wider bandwidth ...