Phono Cartridge Reviews
1 March 2024
Thorens TAS 1500 and TAS 1600
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Further to my review of the Thorens TD 1600 with the new TP 160 tonearm, I've taken the time to carefully compare the TAS 1500 and TAS 1600 cartridges, using the new arm as well as the older TP 92 arm.
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1 January 2024
With the AT-OC9XML and AT-OC9XSL, I wanted to investigate the relative performance of the Special-) Fine Line versus MicroRidge/MicroLinear stylus shapes. And what better way to do this than by using otherwise practically identical cartridges of the same brand?
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16 December 2023
Denon has a strong reputation for its direct-drive designs of the past and the DP-3000NE is their current flagship premium direct-drive turntable. For this review, I will listen to it using the Denon DL-103 and DL-103R MC cartridges.
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15 May 2023
AVIDHIFI BORON MC Cartridge
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AVIDHIFI offers three MC phono cartridges, of which the BORON is the mid-range model. Distinguished from the REFERENCE RUBY top model only by its BORON cantilever, the BORON may well represent the sweet spot of the range.
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2 October 2022
The purpose of Dry Cleaning methods is to introduce a safe and easy method for stylus cleaning. But with so many available solutions, how do they compare? And where does this leave the special wet-cleaning methods?
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30 September 2021
ZYX R50 Bloom3
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Even though I have found time and again that the marriage between a turntable, the arm, and the cartridge can make or break a performance, the Bloom3 worked just as magnificently with the AVID Sequel and Audio Origami PU7 arm as with the Thorens TD1601 and its stock TP-92 arm.
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31 May 2021
Audio Technica AT33Sa
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Ever since reviewing the Thorens TD1601 turntable, I had been thinking of fitting it with an Audio Technica AT33Sa cartridge. Now's the time to find out if it is indeed the great match that I anticipated.
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30 May 2021
Dynavector 10X5 MkII and DV20X2
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A comparison between two cartridges by the same maker that, on the surface, seem to differ only in terms of coil windings and stylus shape.
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5 May 2021
Nagaoka MP-150
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In this Mini-Review, I will be looking at the MP-150's performance using three tonearms and three Avid turntables.
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7 June 2020
Aidas Gala Gold LE MC Cartridge
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Highly-sophisticated, super-silent, velvety-smooth and extremely refined, the Gala Gold LE is the most revealing cartridge that I have heard so far. It's rare to hear a cartridge so very precise, so linear and so highly resolving yet with an absolute absence of dryness and with seemingly eternal decays.
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8 February 2020
High-end turntables tend to be bulky, large, heavy and complex but the Holbo is none of these. This turntable has been very thoughtfully with ultimate transparency and neutrality as well as ease of use in mind.
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29 April 2019
Aidas Rainbow MC Cartridge
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the Rainbow cartridge has a beautiful, rainbow-like, multicolor Durawood body and uses an Adamant boron composite cantilever with a double damping system, leading to exceptional sound quality.
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15 October 2017
Aidas Panzerholz MC Cartridge
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Powerful, incisive and dynamic with incredible transient behavior
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25 February 2017
Although both cartridges really are excellent, I am most surprised by the affordable Shure M97xE.
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25 February 2017
Phono cartridges can make or break a turntable, but the headshell also has a not inconsiderable influence on the sound.
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25 November 2014
Benz MC Gold Used with: Michell Tecnodeck and Tecno Arm MC Gold is Benz’ most affordable product, and it seems to offer good value for money, but in terms of playback precision, it is no substitute for the brand’s dearer cartridges. Both ACE L and ACE SH have significantly better tracking which results in clearer […]
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