CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

nettwerkjohn&guion · Joined: 16 Jun 2010 Posts: 21 Location: Nelson, NZ

i just scored an ortofon kontrapunkt ex japan for $370usd, and it is THE biggest improvement that i have ever had from an upgrade. turntable is a michell reference hydraulic (as seen in clockwork orange) and it completely outclasses every cd player that i have heard apart from the meridian g08

ChrisWiggles · Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 3:19 am Post subject:

I have a Technics 1200, and I put a Shure M97xe on it, and I've been very satisfied with the performance.

It's very different, but compares very favorably to my Musical Fidelity A3.5 CD player.

I haven't compared this cartridge to other similar cartridges on this table though. I have two cheapie stanton DJ cartridges for this table as well(actually one cartridge, but two different styli), and they are drastically inferior to the 97xe (they sound okay though)

My other option I considered at the time was the Audio Technica 440MLa, which has since gone up in price a lot. Someday I'd like to try it out, seems to get high praise.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

ChrisWiggles · Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 3:55 am Post subject:

Yeah, that's a pretty good deal. I paid like $130 for it at a local turntable needle store. Pricey, but I was happy to keep the place in business.

nettwerkjohn&guion · Joined: 16 Jun 2010 Posts: 21 Location: Nelson, NZ

come on guys - a decent mc will blow these out of the water...

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Well I decided to get the Denon DL-110. Am listening to it now and man was my needle on the Shure M95HE word badly!!

The Denon so far sounds great, but I did some research and found that the Shure M95HE was pretty good cartridge. Some say it was limited only by its needle. I found some replacements on LP Gear web site. From 59 bucks to 114 for the JICO SUPER ANALOGUE STYLUS REPLACEMENT FOR SHURE N95ED N95HE STYLUS

Any one here have experience with a stock M95HE? It was on the AR turntable when I bought it but from the get go I could hear it not tracking properly and rubbing so I never really used it till I pulled out the old AR.
How does it compare to the Shure M97XE?

Athanasios

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

nettwerkjohn&guion · Joined: 16 Jun 2010 Posts: 21 Location: Nelson, NZ

well, my kontrapunkt mc cost me $370. it went on a sme 3009 that was already installed on the michell reference hydraulic (a relic from the early 70's) that cost my wife about $400 usd as the seller didn't realise its value. my pre is a pioneer elite. nothing out of the world - total cost about the same as an ortofon 2m black moving magnet, and the sound is considerably better...

CxTurbo · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 425 Location: Ontario, Canada

After a break from Vinyl I just picked up a Pro-Ject RPM 1.3 Genie and Ortofon 2M Red.

I am looking for a PCB based DIY tube phono stage to go with it and my Tubelab KT-88 P-P Tube amp I am building. Then to find some sweet speakers to match.

Can't wait. I just bought the whole Metallica catalogue in the 180g 45rpm vinyl. So I am pumped to hear it. I might just have to use the Phono input on my AVR to give her a listen.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

CxTurbo · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 425 Location: Ontario, Canada

Elusive Disc inc. Best part is that "Ride the Lightning" is now out of print and on sale. They still had it when I last checked Nash.

Bad Ass remasters from what I have read. Done at half speed from the original master tapes by MoFi soundlabs and pressed at RTI.

I am pumped to hear it. lol

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

I have an original garage days revisited, sounds great with my new Denon MC cartridge !!! Your post made me pull that disc out and give it a spin.

check out this thread I just posted.

https://www.curtpalme.com/forum_archived/viewtopic.php@t=25469.html

Athanasios

CxTurbo · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 425 Location: Ontario, Canada

I saw that. interesting idea.

I was a stooge and liquidated all of my vinyl when I sold my tables. I did not have the room for all of it and times were tough so I had to let it go. Therefor no vinyl to clean 8(

I am going to have to start from scratch. I am watching the local classifids for people selling off vinyl. Although some of the prices on the new 180g "Audiophile stuff is way better then I remember.