A friend of mine is flying down from New York in a couple of weeks. I am looking to buy a high end MC cartridge for SME 12A. Can you guys suggest some places that give a good deal on cartridges? All help will be greatly appreciated.
I did not know MC carts need step up too. Thank you for this.Check https://www.musicdirect.com/equipment/phono-cartridges?#/+/0/score/desc/?tab=products
However
1. some high-end MM carts (nagaoka, audio note, goldring) are better than entry level MC
2. MC carts like Koetsu, audio note, kiseki are very very expensive but also top of the line
3. Some MC carts need an additional Stepup transformer which then add to cost
May be not all but since MC carts produce output in .mv henceI did not know MC carts need step up too. Thank you for this.
Vira is a good source for used and refurbished cartridges.I just bought a Denon DL-300 with upgraded Shibata III stylus on boron cantilever from virausa.com. It hasn't arrived yet, but I will try to remember to let you know how it is once it arrives. The price was very good. Fingers crossed it is better than my stock DL-300.
The company has its own line of MCs as well, but they are well over my budget. They seem to have garnered a few good reviews.
If you are ready to make the leap, then go for a step up transformer (SUT) and low output moving coil (LOMC). The reduced mass at the stylus tip, due to just tiny wires attached the the cantilever in stead of heavy magnets or chunk of iron, means that there is a speed in response and an improved high frequency response that make even excellent MM show their inherent problems.
My Denon cartridge from vira is stuck in Vancouver because of all the unusual snow! No mail service in much of BC, Canada due to the amount of snowfall.Vira is a good source for used and refurbished cartridges.