Please suggest a good Cartridge for Project Debut 3 TT

[mahiruha]

Hello guys,
After finalizing the tube setup for vinyl listening I guess I need to upgrade the cartridge of my Project debut 3 TT. I must say I have no idea what could be a good matching cartridge. Can you guys please suggest the best match within $200 price to go with this TT.Also if you please suggest how to source them that would be also beneficial.BTW has anybody ever tried ordering anything from needledoctor.com. I have ordered the audio quest brush and some sleeves from that site.Its almost 3.5 weeks now and nothing has arrived.
Thanks in advance,
Mahiruha.

 

[mahiruha]

Hello,
I actually found a very good discussion on this elsewhere.
Turntable Forum :: View topic - Is the Pro-ject Debut III just not going to cut it?
thanks.

 

[GeorgeO]

AFAIK needledoctor is one of the top sites for vinyl related accessories. A friend got some stuff from there a few years ago without any problems.

George

 

[viren bakhshi]

Mahiruha,

Please look at a good moving magnet cartridge because these have higher outputs (5mV is pretty common). This will mate well directly with the tube phono preamp.

If you consider moving coil cartridges, then select high output ones.

At your price range, you'll probably get better sounding MM than MC cartridges.

Regards,
Viren

 

[myriad]

Hello guys,
After finalizing the tube setup for vinyl listening I guess I need to upgrade the cartridge of my Project debut 3 TT. I must say I have no idea what could be a good matching cartridge. Can you guys please suggest the best match within $200 price to go with this TT.Also if you please suggest how to source them that would be also beneficial.BTW has anybody ever tried ordering anything from needledoctor.com. I have ordered the audio quest brush and some sleeves from that site.Its almost 3.5 weeks now and nothing has arrived.
Thanks in advance,
Mahiruha.

I changed from Sumiko Pearl, which was factory fitted, to Shure Mx97 on my Project RPM4 TT. I found Shure much liking to my taste with clean crisp highs, good mid and decent bass and is a better tracker than Sumiko. Shure is available with Dey Sound in Chadni Market area.

 

[stevieboy]

Hello guys,
After finalizing the tube setup for vinyl listening I guess I need to upgrade the cartridge of my Project debut 3 TT. I must say I have no idea what could be a good matching cartridge. Can you guys please suggest the best match within $200 price to go with this TT.Also if you please suggest how to source them that would be also beneficial.BTW has anybody ever tried ordering anything from needledoctor.com. I have ordered the audio quest brush and some sleeves from that site.Its almost 3.5 weeks now and nothing has arrived.
Thanks in advance,
Mahiruha.

hi mahiruha,

so what tube setup did you get???? please share! good to hear another noobie goes down the toobie drain ok the 'noobie' is just for rhyming please dont take any offence

from ortofon the 2m red ought to be in your budget. someone i know is using it and likes it. else shure is also a great standard cart used by many as suggested by myriad. both will have different sounds so do read the reviews and buy. preferably buy it from here itself instead of from abroad. ortofon is available with the project dealer nova audio, sushil anand bombay. he can courier it to you.

regards

 

[Abhishek]

hi mahiruha!

yes, as stevieboy suggested, the ortofon 2M Red is a good upgrade choice for your Debut 3.

regards,
abhishek.

 

[persiflage]

The Shure is definitely very nice; in my system I found it to be a good improvement over the Ortofon.

 

[mahiruha]

I changed from Sumiko Pearl, which was factory fitted, to Shure Mx97 on my Project RPM4 TT. I found Shure much liking to my taste with clean crisp highs, good mid and decent bass and is a better tracker than Sumiko. Shure is available with Dey Sound in Chadni Market area.

Hello Myriad,
Thanks for your advise. Could you please provide me with the details of Dey audio. This chandi area is bit tricky for me to invade. Probably I will send somebody to pick it up. do they have a phone number where they can be contacted.
Thanks.

 

[myriad]

Hello Myriad,
Thanks for your advise. Could you please provide me with the details of Dey audio. This chandi area is bit tricky for me to invade. Probably I will send somebody to pick it up. do they have a phone number where they can be contacted.
Thanks.

sungroup : suninfonet Pvt. Ltd.
Dey's Sound Equipment Services,
7, Chandni Approach, Kol-72
Ph:22127206
Contact: Arindam Dey

 

[mahiruha]

Mahiruha,

Please look at a good moving magnet cartridge because these have higher outputs (5mV is pretty common). This will mate well directly with the tube phono preamp.

If you consider moving coil cartridges, then select high output ones.

At your price range, you'll probably get better sounding MM than MC cartridges.

Regards,
Viren

Hello viren,
thanks for your suggestion.Since the cartridge needs to match your system so you are in a better positon to advice which could give best results with your phono pre amp.
follwing are the suggestions I have received so far.

Shure - M97xE Phono Cartridge

Ortofon 2M Red Phono Cartridge: The 2M Red and 2M Blue both have the same engine with slit pole pins.

Also tempted to go for 2M blue as the look is quite seductive.Not sure if it would be a overkill.

Ortofon 2M Blue Phono Cartridge: The inspiration for designing the 2M was related to the facets of the diamond.

Or this Goldring
Goldring GL 2200 Phono Cartridge, Goldring GL 2200 Phono Cartridge

I am excluding sumiko as per myriad's advice.
Thanks,
Mahiruha.

 

[viren bakhshi]

Hello Mahiruha,

The matching has more to do with the tonearm, and turntable, than the phono preamp. There are no firm rules, but the cartridge has to be supported (weight/compliance) firmly by the tonearm for it to track well. Beyond that, it's subjective as to which sound appeals more to you.

First recommendation should be from Sushil Anand, of Nova Audio, who sells the Pro-Ject turtables. Then, listen to views of users who have Pro-Ject turntables.

All the cartridges you mentioned are moving magnets, with healthy outputs. The Phono preamp is configured for loading of MM cartridges, and will give you ample gain with any of them.

Regards,
Viren

 

[Shahrukh]

Dear Mahiruha,

I use the Ortofon 2m Red with my ProJect Xpression TT and think it's bloody good for the price. Yes, you could contact Mr Anand of Nova Audio. He has 2m red in stock.

With regards to the "Blue" upgrade, reviews suggest it's a better idea to go the whole hog and go for "Black". The blue is neither here nor there kinda deal. It's good, but could be much better for a few dollars more, if you know what I mean.

 

[mahiruha]

Heloo Shahrukh,
thanks for sharing your first hand experience. I have spoken to Mr Anand and he said he has it in stock. Please tell me if it comes with a stylus cleaning brush and how difficult or ieasy it is to fit that cartridge myself.
Thanks.

 

[mahiruha]

Hello,
so finally the auidoquest antistatic brush arrived, will let you know in due course if it has any significant effect. Next time have to ask for better courier before ordering from needledoctor.com.One month for a brush is too much.

 

[Shahrukh]

Um... better you take your TT to Mr Anand. Are you in Bombay? I have very little knowledge about cart setup, alignment etc. ProJect is a pretty fuss free TT, you'll agree! Then again there are many sites and members on this forum who can help!

No, it doesn't come with a stylus cleaner, but I believe the Onzow Zerodust, though expensive, is a great solution!

 

[Shahrukh]

Sorry, just read that ur from Cal.

 

[stevieboy]

Heloo Shahrukh,
how difficult or ieasy it is to fit that cartridge myself.
Thanks.

GRIN GRIN GRIN all the best in advance.

step 1. muster up all your patience.

step 2. do it at a time when you're chilled

step 3. dowload a free two point cartridge alignment from vinylengine.com

step 4. download the sumiko blackbird cartridge manual from the sumiko website which is an excellent guide on cart set up. read it thoroughly. many times before even attempting to mount the cart.

step 5. read whatever else you can find on cart alignment, there are plenty of websites, but you need not do this. the sumiko manual is very good and covers everything perfectly.

step 6. GO SLOW WHEN YOU START MOUNTING IT!!! you'll find you have to mount, adjust, listen, re-adjust, listen, re-adjust quite a few times to get it right.

 

[mahiruha]

Hello Steven,
thankls for outlining the detailed procedure. It seems to be a very specialised job. I am planning to use my local project dealer to have a first go at it . MY problem is I find it very difficult to deal with a goal where the end result is unknown. In this particular case our goal of getting the perfect sound from 2M red is not so well defined. But I must admist this al together this is a fascinating journey. After receiving the auido quest antistatic brush I am using it religiously before each play. My heart wants to believe it is doing wonders in terms of removing static but my ear is lagging bit behind reaching that sort of conclusion so fast. Lets see how it goes with time.
Thanks.

 

[stevieboy]

hi mahiruha,

your project dealer is a good bet. let him do it. regarding the anti static brush its not meant to entirely remove static. supposed to but doesnt work entirely. it removes fine dust before each play without creating static. to actually remove more static you need an antistat gun like the zerostat or one from mapleshaderecords.com. when using antistatic brush you could try making sure you're not wearing slippers so a direct path is created to ground through your feet. i havent found much difference you can try though

regards