Cartridge

Would you believe it but my Sumiko Blue Point Special is now broken!

I was doing the daily house-keeping on my turntable and my cartridge cleaning brush caught one of the extremely thin coil wires (these are exposed on this cartridge), and broke it.

I have checked into an exchange and the current Sumiko replacement is the Blue Special EVO III.

Would be looking for something like this or similar to replace my damaged unit.

Let me know what you have. Budget needs to be in line with the cost of the Sumiko,...around £200.

 

Sumiko Cartridge

Hi ListeningEar

My first ever Sumiko BPS taught me a not to be forgotten lesson because I snapped the cantilever off while installing It and I had to wait along time until I correctly installed my second one,probably still embedded into the carpet !

Anyway I only registered today because I wanted to view opinions about phonostages but when I saw your plight I thought that I would let you know that I have a brand new BPS ( not series 3) which I purchased from the then importer.I recollect that I paid about £145 and I intend listing this on Ebay in the near future.

The BPS is a good value for money cartridge but in my view a bit on the bright side.I now use a Lyra Evolve 99.which was included when I bought a PT Anniverary turntable and had It retipped by the cartridge man,not cheap but worthwhile.

 

Hi Palacefan,
Welcome ot the forum. Thanks for oyur input, I was hoping to receive something aolong these lines as I too thought the BPS is a little bright but did not mention as I wanted to refrain from putting words in peoples mouths!
Not sure which way to go really, it's been so long since I'v been in the market-place for a good cartridge myself.
What are the Benz cart's like these days?
Any other ideas people?
It will be fitted to a Rega RB300 tonearm fitted with the £60.00 upgraded counter weight. I also intend re-wiring the tonearm with something like the Incognito wire as this maintains a complete cable from clips to RCA plugs.
I am also going to have Zanash re-build a decent phono stage for me too,...hey maybe Zanash has got some input here?!
The deck is a Heybrook TT2 by the way.
I like a very analytical sound, something that extracts as much information as possible without any warmth but not too bright either.

 

I really like the Denons DL series. They are still available to buy new and they are around your budget and in some cases even below.

Jack

 

Another vote for a DL103 if you have MC, if not, try the high output one, is it the 160 or the 110.

 

Which one, they are both listed as high-output MC's:

http://www.needledoctor.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.369/it.A/id.234/.f
http://www.needledoctor.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.369/it.A/id.235/.f

the 160 write up on this site concerns me in that they are offering this as an upgrade for DJ's, not the kind of refinement I am looking for really.

 

i use a dl160 on the lp12. fab for the money. i highly recommend it

 

Ask the question on PFM, there's some real Denon experts there.

 

I use a DL-160 and I think it is terrific for the money. Good dynamics, very gentle top maybe not as extended as the best but pretty good and good soundstaging too.

Haven't heard the DL-110. But it is a High Output MC too.

HTH
Jack

 

Just read on another thread in the Hi-Fi section that someone using a Denon was not impressed with it's ability to play dance music well.

I listen to alot of electronic music which also covers many types of dance music, so having a cartridge that does this well is extremely important.

 

Well, I use one and not to put too fine a point on it, I'd say that was tripe ... assuming they were talking about a 160. Can't speak for the others, I haven't heard one.

 

Thanks for the input, but what are you comparing the Denon too if you have not heard others?
With all due respect if all you've heard is the Denon then you are not going to be aware of how others sound in comparison and what you could be missing out on.

 

I meant I've not heard the other Denon's.

 

have you considered one of the zyx cartridges? i just received mine and so far am totally bowled over by it! i think rather under represented in the uk, but one that you overlook at your cost.

 

How much did you pay for the ZYX?

 

Still does not answer my question

 

i got a pretty good deal on it. but i think the r20 or r30 might be more in the price area you are looking at.

 

One of my contacts at an audio store has stated that the latest Sumiko BPS EVO III had some initial reliability problems, which he now thinks are sorted but to be honest, I am not convinced with the Sumiko performance, I think my old Audio Technica OC-9 blew that away with ease.

They have recommended a Dynvector and Audio Note, so I am off to see what they have to offer, not to mention scanning sites like 'The Needle Doctor' and Audiogon for a bargain.

I think one thing is for sure, I am going to stop using a naked body design.