Cartridge thread for all to add to.

[Kiwimoto]

I've got a Roksan Radius coming that has an Ortofon 2M Red fitted to it.
Being that i don't really know a sub platter from a Uni Pivot,is this a good thing or bad thing?

[WitchdoctorGaz]

You're in for a bit of a treat KM, it's a great turntable and should get you back in to vinyl (assuming you were in to vinyl in the first place of course).
Looking at the calibre of gear you have, it'll be an entree' before the main course for you.

You'll find my review of the Roksan Radius 5.2 by clicking this http://www.witchdoctor.co.nz/index.php/2010/07/roksan-radius-5-2-turntable-nima-tonearm-review/

[T110]

KM. The Roksan aint no slouch nor is the Ortofon. Have you heard this combo in action?
802D's? Nice, real real nice!
Craig

[Kiwimoto]

Thanks guys,i've never ever had a TT before!
I recall nearly buying one years ago,an LP12,but spent my dosh on upgrading my Pioneer reference CD 93 to a two box CAL instead.Shuda kept the Pio and bought the TT.Who would have thought a jap CD player would be worth way more 20 years down the track!
Im putting together a second system starting with:
Radius
EB Acoustics EB1's
Talk 3 cable
Super Dreadnoughts

I want to sell my MF system then spend that money on an amp (undecided),Audiolab 8200,and 8200T just released.I'm kinda liking Roksan Caspian M2 but at around $3k plus landed a second hand Plinius might be better.Any members with an SA50 mk3 they want to unload?

[sirAndy]

I've got a Roksan Radius coming that has an Ortofon 2M Red fitted to it.
Being that i don't really know a sub platter from a Uni Pivot,is this a good thing or bad thing?

Yep, that's a great turntable/cartridge combo. I can't wait to see some photos........

[Kiwimoto]

There will be no photo's as i've cancelled my order.I don't want to cancel my order,but from my vast experience of ordering online if companies start making excuses about delays in filling orders it always ends in tears.Sometimes several months later.I just went through a six month wait on delivery of my EB acoustic EB 1's and i aint doin' it again

[enzedone]

I don't have a lot of money to throw around, hence the reason I am trying to DIY a lot of gear via kits and the likes. So lashing out on expensive gear is just plain out the question for me.
A year or so ago I managed to pick up a Denon 47F DDTT. It was a great step up from the Dual 505, that I had basically given up on, and got me back into thinking more seriously about vinyl. I had been previously tinkering around with an older Marantz CD52 and was unwilling to part with any more money to further my Digital source. So was pleasantly surprised when I picked up the Denon, and listened to a couple of my old eighties albums. The low cost Elektra cartridge http://www.goldring.co.uk/moving-magnet/cartridges/elecktra.htm had seen better days, but was still able to show me what I had been missing while tinkering with digital.
I had to wait a further twelve months, due to other commitments before I could look at getting a new cartridge. But this gave me plenty of time to think about what I was going to purchase, as money was to be kept to a minimum.
I liked the type of sound that the MM was putting out, although the quality was poor it seemed to be laid back and very natural, even when pushed, playing music like Radiohead it was so much nicer to listen to than a CD.
So I decided to continue down that way and looked around for a new MM cartridge. I new I couldn't go crazy, but also realised I was going to have to fork out a great deal more than $100NZD if I wanted to really start getting into vinyl and look at buying new records again. So I took the plunge and bought an Ortofon 2M Blue. I purchased mine off ebay, and it was the most expensive item I have bought from that site, so was quite worried about it's arrival. But it arrived safely and was packed well.
After spending some considerable time trying to set the cartridge up ( And I must say it is very easy to over tighten the screws on these as they screw down into the the actual cartridge, with no nuts). It was a real wow!

Couldn't believe what I was hearing......

It was just more! more everything coming at me from everywhere.... more bass, more mid-range, more layered, more 3D. Good god it was great. And remember this is not some high priced audio gear, but a 30 year old TT matched to a 30 year old receiver.
I have often been too scared about writing any sort of reviews as I haven't had the gear, and quite frankly didn't want make a fool of myself due to not owning some fancy expensive equipment. But there must be other people out there who are looking at cartridges in this sort of price range and would like some feedback on one.
Yeah, so I really love this cartridge. Heaps of detail and bass without sounding ( I don't know, lazy?/too laid back?) as I have heard so many reports on MM cartridges saying. I love the fact that it sounds so far removed from digital, so nice and clean and natural. The biggest shock for me was the bass, as I had heard how TT's can't do bass, yeah whatever!
I am getting on a bit now so I am getting into to more laid back jazz and acoustic music, but still like to crank up some Radiohead every now and then. And this cartridge is just fine with all my records.
There are four in this line-up starting with the Red then moving up to the Blue, Bronze, Black.
If I were to buy another one I would go for the Bronze, as I could then upgrade later on with a new stylus (Black). But realistically I don't think it's worth spending that sort of money on this TT. But I really like these Ortofon cartridges, so would be hoping that my next TT ( if the miss's ever allows it) could take the Bronze or Black.
I have just finished building a 'boozhound' phono stage which I am running via 16 C size batteries which has just made it all sound that much better again.

http://www.ortofon.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=70
Ortofon 2M Blue $169USD plus $10 Shipping.

Cheers

Brett.

[OwenY]

Excellent progress & results, enzedone.
Good hifi enjoyment is about the learning, not simply upgrading.

That Boozehound MM phonostage...did it come with all those cool Russian caps, nice PCB, etc? (IIRC as his site seems to be down for a while.)

[enzedone]

After installing them inside my CD52, I loved that nice sound. So when I saw this, after much research I grabbed it and it is full of nice juicy Russian caps.
I can't wait to purchase a preamp board from PassDIY and get that hooked up.
I have started to collect a few different sizes/range after tinkering with the CDP, so it's good to be able to swap if I feel the need.

[AshleyK]

If I were to buy another one I would go for the Bronze, as I could then upgrade later on with a new stylus (Black). But realistically I don't think it's worth spending that sort of money on this TT. But I really like these Ortofon cartridges, so would be hoping that my next TT ( if the miss's ever allows it) could take the Bronze or Black.

Thanks for posting that enzedone - an Ortofon 2M Black is on my list of possible replacements when my Dynavector goes to the record shop in the sky, along with a few of the Benz Micro cartridges.