Your alltime favourite cartridge...

For me, it just had to be a Kiseki Blue Silver Spot on an Alphason Sonata with an Alphason HR100S MCS tonearm. This combination dated from around 1984 and was truly exquisite. It had the most beautiful, natural sound I have ever heard. OK so it was slightly warm but it was just so relaxed and easy to listen to. Oh how I miss those days. I had two friends at the time, Pete Rushby and Keith Pitts who owned their own Hi-Fi shop and I used to help them out on a Saturday and got to listen to the most amazing equipment. Bless 'em.

 

Now there's a question.

I'm currently using the best cart I've owned, a Benz LP, but if I had to pick one, that had some other meaning then it would have to be an Ortofon Rohman, which was the first expensive cart I ever bought.

 

Van den Hul refurbished Decca London.

Stunning, but the Londons are pretty variable and others I've heard since haven't been to the same standard as that 80s gem.

 

An ESC retipped Troika, nice!

But I still think the humble AT95e is a superb cart and it's less than £50. Showed my G1042 a clean pair of heels.

 

AT95E

 

My Garrott Brothers Decca Gold - sublime, and it's still in use (albeit with a retip)

 

Deccas scare me to death.

 

The cartridge for mono IMO.

 

sure v15 mk111, in the early days, i had decca gold but i must vote for ATOC9 ML, used with sonata/hr100mcs.

 

The highest I ever got with an AT was the ATF5SB which was quite nice - OC9 was mega expensive in comparison.

I must say I quite like my current DL160. Cheap (at the time) and sounds good too.

I don't like to spend too much - too many diminishing returns.

Has anyone else noticed how bloody expensive cartridges are getting these days?

 

tell me about it, i have found a bran new sure v15mkv for£129.00 mind you goldring still make good carts.

 

I think I paid about 60 quid for my Denon only a couple of years ago. They're more than double that now.

Anyone would think audiophiles had more money than sense. ;-)

 

i always loved denon carts, infact i still have a dl 110.

 

Still scary. Not cheap either.

 

I originaly ordered the DL110 but the online supplier was out of stock, so he gave me a DL160 for the same price, although the understanding seems to be that they sound identical.

 

i still wish i could get for a decent price a 104.

 

I loved my old Goldring Excel.... still have it, still has some life left. May have to mount it up again one day.

Currently using another old fave, the Shure V-15 type III with a Jico SAS stylus. The Jico takes this cart to another level frankly, and I don't expect to be changing it anytime soon!

 

Here's my favourites.

Moving Magnet:

Technics EPC205 Mk3 only limited by the elliptical stylus, in the new year I will treat it to a Jico SAS stylus this by far is still my favourite cartridge. It's a shame that nobody has tried to remake it.

Goldring G900 IGC.
Linn K9.
Audio Technica AT95E.

Moving Coil:

Audio Technica ATF5 and OC9.
Linn Trokia and Arkiv B.

 

Kiseki Agate Ruby on a Kuzma Stogi/PT Anniversary.

VDH MC2 Super Special vas very nice as well though.

Paul.

 

Shelter 901 - originally used one on a Pedersen Gyrodec/SME V but sold the whole rig.
Bought another 901 a couple of years ago and it currently sits on a Voyd/ Alphason HR100S. I think it's a superb combination, with the Voyd being easily the best deck I've owned.