Show us your phono cartridge

That’s what I use, too. On Linn Ekos SE. I find it terrific on acoustic instruments and voice

An update on the Ortofon MC X20 cartridge. I have now been playing it regularly for a week and a half, and it sounds like the break-in period was very short indeed. In brief: it only got better, and it seems to be a great match for both the Ittok and the Prefix S.

Having had several Ortofon in the past this cartridge sounds to me as a good MC version of the older 520 MkII (aka Vinyl Master Red) MM cartridge that I also liked. Which was too light for an Ittok but great with Rega and other arms. The MC X series are more substantial.

If anyone is interested to my ears the various versions of the MC X series sound like this:

  • bonded elliptical X10 is a sweet entry level MC which I would use for older decks
  • nude elliptical X20 what I have is a revelation and at €500 the sweet spot IMO
  • fine line X30 is more nicely refined but less addictive transient attack
  • shibata X40 has both again, and is IMO a good MC version of the 2M Black.

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playing natalie merchant tigerlilly Aphelion2

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My new mono option, see Superline Custom Loading of AT33mono - #10 by Yeti for comment.

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Clearaudio Goldfinger mounted on a medium mass KORF tonearm

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Amazing for the price. Replaced a retipped Benz Ruby 2 on my Thorens 124 II, SME 2-9 turntable-arm combination.

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You’re running a superline I think, my stainlees steel Korf doesn’t get on with mine, motorboating is easily triggered by a transient and more easily if I connect the ground, how is the ceramic one with it?

This is in the main system. So, it’s connected to a Lundhal SUT & Phasemation EA2000. I get the feeling that Clearaudio cart only matches well with their own arm and table. A bit economically challenged to try to find out at this moment.

Korf with the ceramic headshell does not misbehave but the sound is a bit aggressive. I am tuning it to play rock and roll.

The Korf removable ceramic head shell works well with a Denon 103 but it makes my Transfiguration Proteus sound a bit analytical and I wasn’t happy with my Decca maroon mono on it either, I bought Yamamoto for the latter but it’s also preferable with the Proteus.

that looks so fragile!

New Clearaudio Artist V2 on SME 3009, still running in..

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