Phono Cartridges - Your favorites and least favorites?

Anyone on here used or are familiar with the Dr. Feikert Protractor Alignment tool? Thinking of getting one.
 
LOL. True, but Toronto is a big spread! And actually, right now it is against the law to go out for anything other than essential purposes, which do include going to the record store and vinyl related matters.
 
I have it. I am open to loaning it locally.
Thanks I appreciate that, do you mind if I ask where you purchased it from? I've searched around locally/Canada and wasn't having much luck beyond the occasional listing on CanuckAudiomart.
 
Thanks I appreciate that, do you mind if I ask where you purchased it from? I've searched around locally/Canada and wasn't having much luck beyond the occasional listing on CanuckAudiomart.
I've had it for years, so I'm not sure, but probably from Acoustic Sounds or Elusive Disc. For the price, it wasn't particularly a smart buy, given that it comes out of the box every two to three years.
 
Ok, after hemming and hawing and running my backup cart longer than I wanted to, I’m just gonna replace the stylus on my Goldring because I don’t feel like I’m gonna get better than my 1042 without making an investment.

Any seller we all like right now? Pricewise, it’s looking like $300 is the set price across the board so mostly wondering about shipping time/responsiveness/not sucking.
 
Ok, after hemming and hawing and running my backup cart longer than I wanted to, I’m just gonna replace the stylus on my Goldring because I don’t feel like I’m gonna get better than my 1042 without making an investment.

Any seller we all like right now? Pricewise, it’s looking like $300 is the set price across the board so mostly wondering about shipping time/responsiveness/not sucking.

$273 here. A little savings.

 
Ok, after hemming and hawing and running my backup cart longer than I wanted to, I’m just gonna replace the stylus on my Goldring because I don’t feel like I’m gonna get better than my 1042 without making an investment.

Any seller we all like right now? Pricewise, it’s looking like $300 is the set price across the board so mostly wondering about shipping time/responsiveness/not sucking.
$293 shipped from here. I placed an order last Saturday, they shipped from Oregon on Monday, it arrived in Missouri on Friday, so that's pretty darn good.
 
That’s who I was looking at initially, mostly because they’re domestic and I’ve been hearing mixed results about overseas shipping.
I've placed three orders with them, all went well. They look like a small company in Corvallis. I'd pay the extra $12 and order from them rather than deal with shipping from the UK.
 
New update on my opinions of grado black now that I listen to everything on grado headphones

Tbh maybe it's because I'm used to my hip dac and mqa and bass boost but now the grado just seems.. boring.. not a bad cartridge, especially now that I can finally clean it with an onzow. But I still feel like it's not "my" cartridge.. now the bass is a little too toned down and they're is no real punch or dynamics.. i don't think I damaged my stylus (though I have very wobbly hands so I could have accidentally moved the cartridge in a bad way). But i more just wish everything popped more. The only way it gets to a point where I consider there enough punch is when it feels too loud on my ears (maybe it's the output)

So yeah, everyone enjoy a grado if you like the sound, and I in fact love their headphones. But when it comes to turntable maybe I am more used to the more digital sound
 
So, I'm looking at AT styluses, more precisely at the VM series and ATVM95 series. Anybody knows the difference between say the ATVMN95ML and VMN40ML? @Rowan I think you own the latter, maybe you have some insight? There is a slight price difference, so I'm wondering if that's only due to the design to fit into the cartridge or if there is a real difference.
 
So, I'm looking at AT styluses, more precisely at the VM series and ATVM95 series. Anybody knows the difference between say the ATVMN95ML and VMN40ML? @Rowan I think you own the latter, maybe you have some insight? There is a slight price difference, so I'm wondering if that's only due to the design to fit into the cartridge or if there is a real difference.
The ATVMN95ML is the replacement stylus for the ATVM95 series cartridge. The VMN40ML is the replacement stylus for the 700 series. The two are not interchangeable.

One difference is that the lower cost cartridge has threaded inserts so it’s easier to mount. The lower cost cartridge has a larger diameter cantilever (the part that holds the diamond) so it’s stiffer-less compliant. The lower cost VM95 is a better match for medium/ high mass arms. The 700 series is a better match for low/medium mass arms.

The 95 series fits well with Technics/Rega/MoFi arms. The 700 series will work better on Pro-ject/Music Hall/Rega and Technics. Yes, there’s an overlap- the Technics and Rega arms are medium mass arms and work well with a wide variety of cartridges.
 
The ATVMN95ML is the replacement stylus for the ATVM95 series cartridge. The VMN40ML is the replacement stylus for the 700 series. The two are not interchangeable.

One difference is that the lower cost cartridge has threaded inserts so it’s easier to mount. The lower cost cartridge has a larger diameter cantilever (the part that holds the diamond) so it’s stiffer-less compliant. The lower cost VM95 is a better match for medium/ high mass arms. The 700 series is a better match for low/medium mass arms.

The 95 series fits well with Technics/Rega/MoFi arms. The 700 series will work better on Pro-ject/Music Hall/Rega and Technics. Yes, there’s an overlap- the Technics and Rega arms are medium mass arms and work well with a wide variety of cartridges.
Great thanks. As usual, clear and great explanation. I looked at my tonearm: The Satisfy Kardan from Clearaudio. I couldn't find where it sits in the mass scale. From the website, it weight 350g and cartridge balance range 2.5g-17g. That's the only info I can find.

Here is what I found for tone arm mass:
Low mass arms* mate well with both moderately high and very high compliance phono cartridges.
*A tonearm whose effective mass is rated at 10 grams or below is considered low mass (e.g. early SME’s, Grace 747, Ortofon AS-309S, RS-309D, TA-110 and TA-210).

Moderate mass tonearms** are good companions for moderate to low compliance cartridges.
**A tonearm whose effective mass is rated between 11 and 25 grams is considered moderate mass (e.g. SME IV, IV, V, VI, Triplanar, Graham). Arms above 25 grams of mass are high mass in nature (Eminent Technology, Dynavector).

I'm not sure where my arm sits? is it low or moderate?
 
So, I'm looking at AT styluses, more precisely at the VM series and ATVM95 series. Anybody knows the difference between say the ATVMN95ML and VMN40ML? @Rowan I think you own the latter, maybe you have some insight? There is a slight price difference, so I'm wondering if that's only due to the design to fit into the cartridge or if there is a real difference.
Erm, not sure on the differences between the 95ml and 740ml (carts right?) but when I compared the 540 and 740 main difference is supposed to be the metal body on the 740 which AT think gives a better performance resonance wise.

But what sold it for me was the ability to swap between the 40ml, 50sh and 60slc. I quite fancy trying a shibata at some point so being able to flit between stylus types sounded cool. I haven't actually done it but, you know, one day
 
Great thanks. As usual, clear and great explanation. I looked at my tonearm: The Satisfy Kardan from Clearaudio. I couldn't find where it sits in the mass scale. From the website, it weight 350g and cartridge balance range 2.5g-17g. That's the only info I can find.

Here is what I found for tone arm mass:


I'm not sure where my arm sits? is it low or moderate?
I’d say medium mass. The cantilevers on the Clearaudio cartridges (made by A/T) are more like the 500/700 series than the VM95 series.
 
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