Phono Cartridges - Your favorites and least favorites?

HiFi Guy said:
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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OK thanks. So far online when people replace the cantilever from their CA carts with AT ones, they actually use ones from the VM95 series and not with the ones from the 500/700 series. So I was just curious. I'm wondering if it would also work with the 500/700 series...
 
Rowan said:
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
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Thanks. I was more interested by the difference between the 2 swappable styluses than the carts themselves. But @HiFi Guy provided the answer I was looking for. I plan to replace the AT stylus on a Clearaudio virtuoso, and was looking at the different offerings from AT. How do you like the microline stylus?
 
Mr Moustache said:
OK thanks. So far online when people replace the cantilever from their CA carts with AT ones, they actually use ones from the VM95 series and not with the ones from the 500/700 series. So I was just curious. I'm wondering if it would also work with the 500/700 series...
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It might be the difference in the assemblies- I’m guessing it’s easier to do the hack with the VM95.
 
Mr Moustache said:
Thanks. I was more interested by the difference between the 2 swappable styluses than the carts themselves. But @HiFi Guy provided the answer I was looking for. I plan to replace the AT stylus on a Clearaudio virtuoso, and was looking at the different offerings from AT. How do you like the microline stylus?
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Love it. I came from a Nag 200 and I occassionally switch them out but the 740 blows it away for me. I suppose I'd say its really well balanced. Not bright but not warm, tracks like a beast. I think it's probably the bargain bit of my set up. It's the reason I've resisted messing about with MCs
 
Mr Moustache said:
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?
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Hoffman Forum folks seem to estimate the effective tonearm mass of the Satisfy as ~9.5g, which on the low end.
 
Just put a VM95ML on the AT-120 that is my basement/covid times office table and am pretty impressed so far. A lot more sonic info coming through vs the stock green stylus. I think the overall gain may actually be lower, but I am hearing more lows in a big way and clearer highs as well. Excited for how this should sound after it gets some more break in time.
 
AnthonyI said:
After we're done playing with the Ortofon Blue, we'll be giving another cartridge company I've always wanted to try a go, but never got a chance, something from the more affordably priced upgrade category :)
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I've been thinking of trying one of these out, let me know how it goes once you've had a chance to test it!
 
Splunders said:
They are. The Zephyr I got was delayed by about 3 weeks due to being back oredered from Soundsmith.

@HiFi Guy If you don't mind sharing, what's your hifi reviewer status these days? Did MusicDirect ever contact you back?
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Never heard from them. So I’ll post here when I come across things that interest me.
 
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