New phono cart needed

[DSJR]

SH is inferior to the ML.

The SH tip on the OC9 is in a higher plane altogether over the ML version, which sounds rather one-note 'crisp/snappy' up top in comparison (I quite like that, but the extra refinement on cymbal 'timbres' if they're played well is actually there in the grooves and the SH helps reproduce this better - there was a Youtube vid showing the comparison between the elliptical, ML and SH versions).

I very much liked the VM95ML I set up, but it's a bit relentless for some, I suspect. I don't know the 95SH I'm afraid, but it's not that much more expensive and may be better in some systems - have a look on the German Lowbeats site for measurements and sound-bites.

I'd also rather like to spend some time with the Ortofon 2M Bronze, but as I have 500 series and Super OM bodies (both similar innards with slit-poles), it'd be more cost-effective to get a 530 or OM30 stylus I think. My Dual 701 tonearm didn't like the Goldring 1042, so may react similarly to the 2M Bronze. The AT VM740 may well be better for livelier tonearms such as this.

 

[JP]

And what controls were used for these comparisons?

 

[dlaloum]

The SH tip on the OC9 is in a higher plane altogether over the ML version, which sounds rather one-note 'crisp/snappy' up top in comparison (I quite like that, but the extra refinement on cymbal 'timbres' if they're played well is actually there in the grooves and the SH helps reproduce this better - there was a Youtube vid showing the comparison between the elliptical, ML and SH versions).

I very much liked the VM95ML I set up, but it's a bit relentless for some, I suspect. I don't know the 95SH I'm afraid, but it's not that much more expensive and may be better in some systems - have a look on the German Lowbeats site for measurements and sound-bites.

I'd also rather like to spend some time with the Ortofon 2M Bronze, but as I have 500 series and Super OM bodies (both similar innards with slit-poles), it'd be more cost-effective to get a 530 or OM30 stylus I think. My Dual 701 tonearm didn't like the Goldring 1042, so may react similarly to the 2M Bronze. The AT VM740 may well be better for livelier tonearms such as this.

The needle profile, should not make any difference in voicing terms...

However, differing needle mounting method (needle to cantilever), and/or cantilever differences, DO make substantial voicing differences. (both alter the effective mass, and therefore the resonance frequency, and thereby the frequency response...)