What's the best cartridge recommended for SL1210 MK5?

[manua]

Hi,

Can you all please suggest me as what's the best cartridge that is recommended for Technics SL1210 MK5.Please speak from your experience where you are getting the best output so that I can take a decision accordingly.

Thanks.

 

[malvai]

Budget? Without one, its hard to suggest!

 

[manua]

Thanks.

I didn't think much on the budget as I really need a good cartridge that should gel/integrate well with this TT and should give me a balanced output.Would request you to suggest the product and also tentative price range.

 

[malvai]

Thanks.

I didn't think much on the budget as I really need a good cartridge that should gel/integrate well with this TT and should give me a balanced output.Would request you to suggest the product and also tentative price range.

if you're on a budget, then the Shure Mx 97 is great! HAve tried it on my erstwhile Techincs TT. Stupendous sound for a mere 5k or thereabouts.

If you need more options, you'll need to tell me the mass of your tonearm.

 

[manua]

if you're on a budget, then the Shure Mx 97 is great! HAve tried it on my erstwhile Techincs TT. Stupendous sound for a mere 5k or thereabouts.

If you need more options, you'll need to tell me the mass of your tonearm.

I have both Shure M97XE & M92E cartridge.But am facing peculiar problem with both while using it in my Technics TT which is detailed below :

1)M97XE - When am transferring the audio from the TT to my PC through a soundforge software the recording in the 2 channels are much milder.I mean the waves which form in the PC are much thinner.Maybe the punch is less.

2)M92E - The punch is very good.Seems to be well balanced sound when heard and at a lower volume in my amp get a much louder output.Also in the PC the recording waves are much thicker.But the problem here is it seems the sound is heavily tilted on the left channel than the right channel as in case of a mono recording in the PC I can make out the left wave thickness is more than the right one.Now that is what is bothering me as why this is happening!!

 

[malvai]

I have both Shure M97XE & M92E cartridge.But am facing peculiar problem with both while using it in my Technics TT which is detailed below :

1)M97XE - When am transferring the audio from the TT to my PC through a soundforge software the recording in the 2 channels are much milder.I mean the waves which form in the PC are much thinner.Maybe the punch is less.

2)M92E - The punch is very good.Seems to be well balanced sound when heard and at a lower volume in my amp get a much louder output.Also in the PC the recording waves are much thicker.But the problem here is it seems the sound is heavily tilted on the left channel than the right channel as in case of a mono recording in the PC I can make out the left wave thickness is more than the right one.Now that is what is bothering me as why this is happening!!

for point 1: check the gain that is being input into the PC... try a better phono stage - one that allows you to dial in the right impedences etc.

for point 2, either the cartridge is misaligned, or the cart (if pre-owned) was used in a misaligned manner and now its worn out because of that.... get a replacement stylus if that is the case...

 

[manua]

for point 1: check the gain that is being input into the PC... try a better phono stage - one that allows you to dial in the right impedences etc.

for point 2, either the cartridge is misaligned, or the cart (if pre-owned) was used in a misaligned manner and now its worn out because of that.... get a replacement stylus if that is the case...

I have a dedicated Yamaha & Denone stereo amp of good stature both having phono in facility.But in both cases the 1st cartridge has shown the same result.But when the same amps r used for the other cartridge the gain in the PC is much more.So it has definitely to do something with the cartridge only.Isn't it?Though 97E is 3 times expensive than 92E can it have lesser gain than 92E?Thats what worrying me!!

By misaligned do you mean to say that fitting of the cartridge is not correct?I will once again fix it tomorrow if thats the case.Do you think a replacement stylus would solve the problem?

 

[malvai]

I have a dedicated Yamaha & Denone stereo amp of good stature both having phono in facility.But in both cases the 1st cartridge has shown the same result.But when the same amps r used for the other cartridge the gain in the PC is much more.So it has definitely to do something with the cartridge only.Isn't it?Though 97E is 3 times expensive than 92E can it have lesser gain than 92E?Thats what worrying me!!

By misaligned do you mean to say that fitting of the cartridge is not correct?I will once again fix it tomorrow if thats the case.Do you think a replacement stylus would solve the problem?

Firstly Manua, most of the good carts have lower gain. Higher gain does not neccesarily mean better sound. In fact, with lower gain, most carts eliminate extraneous noise. So, what you get is purer sound. All one has to do is crank up the volume a lil higher - no harm in that, is it?

and in the second case, the cart seems to be misaligned, if it doesn;t get fixed by readjustment, then yes, its time to change the stylus.

thirdly, the onboard phono stages on both these amps are not the greatest examples of good phono stages.

you could buy yourself a better phono later.

 

[manua]

Firstly Manua, most of the good carts have lower gain. Higher gain does not neccesarily mean better sound. In fact, with lower gain, most carts eliminate extraneous noise. So, what you get is purer sound. All one has to do is crank up the volume a lil higher - no harm in that, is it?

and in the second case, the cart seems to be misaligned, if it doesn;t get fixed by readjustment, then yes, its time to change the stylus.

thirdly, the onboard phono stages on both these amps are not the greatest examples of good phono stages.

you could buy yourself a better phono later.

Thanks for your inputs.

Yes you are correct that most of the better carts have lower gain and higher gain doesn't mean better sound.Maybe the line in volume need to be adjusted to give a better result in the PC.

The M92 one I will check tomorrow and would in any case order a new stylus soon.

Do you still suggest these 2 as decent cartridges which can be recommended for this player?

Regarding AMP what's your suggestion?

 

[malvai]

Look around for used/ preowned deals on the Lehmann Black Cube or Musical Surroundings Phonomena... they are pretty good for the money spent...

 

[sachu888]

Firstly Manua, most of the good carts have lower gain. Higher gain does not neccesarily mean better sound. In fact, with lower gain, most carts eliminate extraneous noise. So, what you get is purer sound. All one has to do is crank up the volume a lil higher - no harm in that, is it?

and in the second case, the cart seems to be misaligned, if it doesn;t get fixed by readjustment, then yes, its time to change the stylus.

thirdly, the onboard phono stages on both these amps are not the greatest examples of good phono stages.

you could buy yourself a better phono later.

Hi,

I am using vintage Shure M555 cartridge with my Technics Sl-D303 with very good result.

Regards,

Sachin

 

[malvai]

Hi,

I am using vintage Shure M555 cartridge with my Technics Sl-D303 with very good result.

Regards,

Sachin

That is one of the good shure carts from the past...

 

[murali_n]

Hi,

Can you all please suggest me as what's the best cartridge that is recommended for Technics SL1210 MK5.Please speak from your experience where you are getting the best output so that I can take a decision accordingly.

Thanks.

Hai Manua,

For a budget less than 2k, Audio-Technica AT-91 is a Value for Money. I have used it to convert 100s of LPs and it sounds great. Also the low volume encountered with Shure may be due to one of the foll reasons:

1) Worn out stylus.
2) Low volume set in Line-in control.

Use good quality sound card, normalise the volume after conversion, sample at very high rate and convert to low bit rate after click and crackle removal, use good sound editors like sound forge or Creative wave editor which come bundled with the creative sound card.

Creative Audigy is a good sound card at a budget.

N.Murali

 

[manua]

Hai Manua,

For a budget less than 2k, Audio-Technica AT-91 is a Value for Money. I have used it to convert 100s of LPs and it sounds great. Also the low volume encountered with Shure may be due to one of the foll reasons:

1) Worn out stylus.
2) Low volume set in Line-in control.

Use good quality sound card, normalise the volume after conversion, sample at very high rate and convert to low bit rate after click and crackle removal, use good sound editors like sound forge or Creative wave editor which come bundled with the creative sound card.

Creative Audigy is a good sound card at a budget.

N.Murali

Thanks Murali for your inputs.

I am using sound forge software only and both the stylus are comparitively new.

Pls explain how "normalising the volume" after conversion helps after ripping the song.And also if possible explain what you mean by "sample at high rate" and convert it at "low bit rate".Am sorry too many questions.

 

[murali_n]

Hai Manua,

For Soundforge software, set the sampling bit rate at 96000 hz and 24 bit, under record menu. Record the song , clean the wave if there are clicks using click and crackle removal menu, after that under "process" there is a Normalise function, to increase the volume of the wave, use it to increase the volume. After all editing save the wave as 44100 hz, 24-bit format under save as option.

Then you write the wave to CD, this way your recording will sound good.

N.Murali

 

[manua]

Hai Manua,

For Soundforge software, set the sampling bit rate at 96000 hz and 24 bit, under record menu. Record the song , clean the wave if there are clicks using click and crackle removal menu, after that under "process" there is a Normalise function, to increase the volume of the wave, use it to increase the volume. After all editing save the wave as 44100 hz, 24-bit format under save as option.

Then you write the wave to CD, this way your recording will sound good.

N.Murali

Thank you so much Murali.