What cartridge for my record player?
Discussion
Always wanted one of these. Im too young to remember them the first time round. I was given a Dual CS-5000 player. It has no cartridge.
I have often heard of a company called Ortofon (from Djs) who swear by these lads. But looking on their website, im bamboozled by the vast array.
Any suggestions please?
I have often heard of a company called Ortofon (from Djs) who swear by these lads. But looking on their website, im bamboozled by the vast array.
Any suggestions please?
mcflurry said:
Assuming it takes a standard fit, then I would go for a Stanton cartridge. They served me well on my Technics decks for years, until I moved to cds...
Yuck!!You will probably need a Moving Magnet Cartridge. I would suggest the Audio Technica AT95 at about £35.
Edited by telecat on Thursday 16th July 14:59
Ray Singh said:
Interesting point. I havent even received the turntable yet. It will be delivered on Tuesday.
I have the choice of Arcam Alpha 5 amplifier or NAD 310 Amplifier at the moment.
These have Phono stages - Dont they - Please dont flame me for not knowing....
The Arcam certainly will, The NAD I would have thought so too.I have the choice of Arcam Alpha 5 amplifier or NAD 310 Amplifier at the moment.
These have Phono stages - Dont they - Please dont flame me for not knowing....
Turntable Cartridges only put out a tiny signal. Hence you need to "step up" the signal. The other inputs usually expect about a 2 volt signal. Moving Magnet's tend to output a higher signal than Moving coil and are cheaper as well. At your level I would try the AT95 and if you feel the need you can get a better Moving Magnet later. Some amps do have a "switch" which allows you to use either type but I would check the Amp first.
Edited by telecat on Thursday 16th July 16:49
ceebmoj said:
I have all ways wondered why is there a special phono stage in the amp? surly it would make more scene to have the phono stage in the record deck?
blake
As with most things in life, with phono stages you get what you pay for. You can pay not a lot, or you can pay an awful of of money for one (Thousands). It's difficult to make generalisations, but if you have a quality vinyl system, a decent one is probably going to cost at least a couple of hundred quid. So the point is it makes no sense to put it in the turntable, because, depending on the cartridge you end up using, it may not be good enough. And, yes, they do make a huge difference. I've currently got three, which I can swap around depending on what I feel sounds best at the time I'm listening. I don't suppose anybody cares, 'cos it going way off topic, but my current favourite is an EAR 834P with the original valves swapped for some TJ Full Music 12AX7's.blake
As I said earlier, as vinyl has become less popular, many amps now don't even have a phono input. It just adds to the cost, and most people won't use it.
Incredible Sulk said:
As with most things in life, with phono stages you get what you pay for. You can pay not a lot, or you can pay an awful of of money for one (Thousands). It's difficult to make generalisations, but if you have a quality vinyl system, a decent one is probably going to cost at least a couple of hundred quid. So the point is it makes no sense to put it in the turntable, because, depending on the cartridge you end up using, it may not be good enough. And, yes, they do make a huge difference. I've currently got three, which I can swap around depending on what I feel sounds best at the time I'm listening. I don't suppose anybody cares, 'cos it going way off topic, but my current favourite is an EAR 834P with the original valves swapped for some TJ Full Music 12AX7's.
As I said earlier, as vinyl has become less popular, many amps now don't even have a phono input. It just adds to the cost, and most people won't use it.
if that the case why do amps have them in at all? as the one built in to the amp is likely to be of lower quality than a dedicated separate phono stage?As I said earlier, as vinyl has become less popular, many amps now don't even have a phono input. It just adds to the cost, and most people won't use it.
also surly you want the shortest signal path as posible from record desk to phono stage as the signal is such a low level? and in the same box and the record deck is closer than the amp.
ceebmoj said:
Incredible Sulk said:
Stuff.
if that the case why do amps have them in at all? as the one built in to the amp is likely to be of lower quality than a dedicated separate phono stage?also surly you want the shortest signal path as posible from record desk to phono stage as the signal is such a low level? and in the same box and the record deck is closer than the amp.
As for the first point, in lower priced stuff, the answer is yes. In higher priced (pre and integrated) amps, some of the phono stages are quite good. I have a Copland preamp with a phono stage in it and it is quite good. However, it is a) a couple of grand's worth of kit, and b) MM only, and I use a moving coil cartridge, so I have to use step up transformers if I want to use that. In general terms a separate phono stage will give you better results, because the person who designed it only had one objective in mind when he designed it, whereas many of the phono stages built into amplifiers in the past at any rate used 'off the peg' circuit designs, with average quality components. Modern phono stages, at least the audiophile ones, also use high quality components due to the low level signals involved, in my case my cartdidge outputs about 350 microvolts, and that has to be amplified up to a line level signal - say 100 - 200 millivolts. Many also offer the option to tailor the cartridge loading.
Turning to the second point, yes the signal levels are low, but if you use good quality cabling in the tonearm, and the from the tonearm to the phono stage, there doesn't seem to be a problem. Provided the cable runs are relatively short, say a metre or so.
Linn have just released something with the phono stage built into their LP12 turntable, but I think that comes in at about £18k. Could be wrong about that tho.....
Incredible Sulk said:
Oooh. Worms. Can. Open..................
As for the first point, in lower priced stuff, the answer is yes. In higher priced (pre and integrated) amps, some of the phono stages are quite good. I have a Copland preamp with a phono stage in it and it is quite good. However, it is a) a couple of grand's worth of kit, and b) MM only, and I use a moving coil cartridge, so I have to use step up transformers if I want to use that. In general terms a separate phono stage will give you better results, because the person who designed it only had one objective in mind when he designed it, whereas many of the phono stages built into amplifiers in the past at any rate used 'off the peg' circuit designs, with average quality components. Modern phono stages, at least the audiophile ones, also use high quality components due to the low level signals involved, in my case my cartdidge outputs about 350 microvolts, and that has to be amplified up to a line level signal - say 100 - 200 millivolts. Many also offer the option to tailor the cartridge loading.
Turning to the second point, yes the signal levels are low, but if you use good quality cabling in the tonearm, and the from the tonearm to the phono stage, there doesn't seem to be a problem. Provided the cable runs are relatively short, say a metre or so.
Linn have just released something with the phono stage built into their LP12 turntable, but I think that comes in at about £18k. Could be wrong about that tho.....
thanks for the reply confirms basically what I thought its just that there so much smoke and mirrors with any thing hifi and some of it seams to be the opersit of what I was taught while studding at uni. As for the first point, in lower priced stuff, the answer is yes. In higher priced (pre and integrated) amps, some of the phono stages are quite good. I have a Copland preamp with a phono stage in it and it is quite good. However, it is a) a couple of grand's worth of kit, and b) MM only, and I use a moving coil cartridge, so I have to use step up transformers if I want to use that. In general terms a separate phono stage will give you better results, because the person who designed it only had one objective in mind when he designed it, whereas many of the phono stages built into amplifiers in the past at any rate used 'off the peg' circuit designs, with average quality components. Modern phono stages, at least the audiophile ones, also use high quality components due to the low level signals involved, in my case my cartdidge outputs about 350 microvolts, and that has to be amplified up to a line level signal - say 100 - 200 millivolts. Many also offer the option to tailor the cartridge loading.
Turning to the second point, yes the signal levels are low, but if you use good quality cabling in the tonearm, and the from the tonearm to the phono stage, there doesn't seem to be a problem. Provided the cable runs are relatively short, say a metre or so.
Linn have just released something with the phono stage built into their LP12 turntable, but I think that comes in at about £18k. Could be wrong about that tho.....
ceebmoj said:
thanks for the reply confirms basically what I thought its just that there so much smoke and mirrors with any thing hifi and some of it seams to be the opersit of what I was taught while studding at uni.
Not English Lit was it? 
The Dual is a decent budget deck, don't put a DJ cartidge in unless you are doing a backspin etc.
Ortofon / Goldring / AT do decent ones for $40 ish.
Your Arcam / NAD amp will probably have a MM phono stage which will be fine for your needs, at least to start with.
Put the deck on a level surface, ideally a light shelf, not a heavy sideboard, and not on the same bit of furniture as the speakers.
Keep the vinyl clean, and de-fluff the needle every now and again.
Helpful page here:
http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk/hfw/oldeworldehtml/dua...
Koenig
Edited by koenig999 on Thursday 16th July 23:02
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