Thank you and I shall heed your words!!
It sounds like me buying a cartridge, like a Ortofon Blue, would possibly result in limited or suboptimal performance, because the tone arm and deck materials on my TT are mediocre, correct? Thus, I would not be getting all the cartridge has to offer, as the cartridge performance is reliant upon the tone arm and deck materials. Am I understanding correctly?
I did find the AT cartridge you recommended here:
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT-VM95E-Turntable-Headshell-Cartridge/dp/B07JLX1JZ7/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2I27H3LDNQTWN&keywords=AT+VM95E&qid=1666279521&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjEwIiwicXNhIjoiMS42MiIsInFzcCI6IjEuNTgifQ==&sprefix=at%20vm95e,aps,56&sr=8-3&th=1
My current cartridge is:
https://www.lpgear.com/product/SANYTP1005.html
Do we believe the AT would be a step-up from the my current cartridge? I would venture that's a yes, but curious about opinions. Lastly, I like the idea of a new head shell to go with the new cartridge, as shown above.
The same cartridge body, with better stylus, was also sold by the much more upmarket brand Grace as the F9 (according to the brain trust on Vinylengine...
https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=87366&start=60 )
A stylus such as this one:
or
www.jico-stylus.com
Would take you straight into TOTL performance territory.
That cartridge body was sold under a plethora of differing brands, with the main difference being the quality of the stylus fitted!
Brands/Models included:
• Used In: FISHER/SANYO MG-10J KENWOOD V-49 SANSUI SV-45 etc.
• Also Found In: AUDIO TECHNICA FISHER KENWOOD MGA ONKYO SANSUI
• ASTATIC NEEDLES N1686
• AUDIO TECHNICA CARTRIDGES AT-952 AT952 AUDIO TECHNICA NEEDLES AT-952 AT952 ATN-952 ATN952
• EVG NEEDLES PM2308D
• FIDELITONE NEEDLES A867
• FISHER MODELS ACS100 ACS105 ACS108 ACS110 ACS116 ACS122 ACS125 105 108 110 1100 122 125 3100 3200 3300 ICS580 MC4561 MT6117
• FISHER NEEDLES 4-156T-0050 4156T0050 4-157T-00500 4157T00500 4-157T-00G01 4157T00G01 ST-10J ST10J ST-43D ST43D
• KENWOOD CARTRIDGES V-49 V49
• KENWOOD NEEDLES N-49 N49
• MGA CARTRIDGES MAG-4 MAG4
• MGA NEEDLES 3D-44M 3D44M
• ONKYO CARTRIDGES OC40 OC-40
• ONKYO NEEDLE DN-40ST
• RECOTON SP964D
• SANSUI NEEDLES SN-45
• SANSUI CARTRIDGES SV-45
• SANSUI MODELS TPB2 TPX2
• SANYO MODELS H20 TP-1005 TP1005 TP-1010 TP1010 TP-30 TP30 TP-B2 TPB2 V30
• SANYO CARTRIDGES MG-10 MG-10J MS-110 MG-43 ST10J ST10J ST11D ST11D ST43 ST43D MG10 MG10J MS110 MG43 SANYO NEEDLES ST-10J ST10J ST-11D ST11D ST-43 ST-43D
You can use this list to search for replacement styli - and you should be able to find everything from basic conical/spherical on aluminium cantilever, to line contact with ruby/sapphire/boron cantilevers....
But as stated earlier - sorting out the platform, and vibration isolation etc, is the key to top flight results.... and spending big bugs on an expensive TT, won't change that. (with the exception of some VERY expensive TT's which incorporate a vibration isolating table into the package.... but those are in the 5 figures+ category)