Cartridge for PL71

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karatestu
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Cartridge for PL71

Unread post by karatestu »

Its about time i got this thing playing records.

I have very little knowledge of matching cartridge's to tonearm's and even less experience of actually fitting a cartridge. :oops:

What cartridge specs does the PL71 require?

Many thanks, Stu
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Re: Cartridge for PL71

Unread post by _D_S_J_R_ »

Anything you like really, although the early 70's high compliance types aren't really stable in arms like this.

How much do you want to spend - brief list of possibilities -

AT VM95 - new range and any will work I think. Similar body to old Linn K9, so the fancier diamonds aren't wasted here

AT520/530/540 - to taste

Denon 110 - Safe as houses bit a bit boring too.

Denion 103 - Conical tip spoils the rest, but many analogue people love it and don't seem to hear the highs roll off at side end.

Hana MC's - good all round MC types in high and low output versions, Not coloured like the Dynavector 20 models and now around half the price os said DV20's.

Dynavector 10XV - used to be DL110 price with similar safe sound but silly money now. They've stuch a modern Shibata tip on to justify nearly £600 price.

Ortofon - loads - some good and some shite - takes yer pick...

I find most Grado's a bit dull, but the Black One is least affected. Sumiko Pearl another old fashioned beefy musical sound which is a great mechanical match to the arm.

The deck is potentially amazing, depending on what you do with it..
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Re: Cartridge for PL71

Unread post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew »

It is a universal arm it will play anything. When I had one I went from SPU /Shure M3D to Empire 1000zex, opposite ends of the compliance / tracking weight choice. I never found it not working properly and not playing music.

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Re: Cartridge for PL71

Unread post by savvypaul »

I saw this 'review' of the Denon 103...

Introduced in 1962, the Denon DL-103 moving-coil cartridge ($229) is a music-lover's friend, an audiophile classic, a man's cartridge. All the cool guys have one. At least one. Really cool dudes have like three or four. Sometimes, you even meet a girl who uses a Denon DL-103, but she is invariably extremely hot. Her name is Charlie or Ingrid or Scarlett, or some crazy shit like that. She owns more records than you do. She'll eventually want to move your furniture. If you're smart, you'll let her. And when you're done moving furniture, you'll sit down with a glass of gin and a smoke, and you'll drop the needle on Dexter Gordon's Our Man In Paris. You'll take the stairway to the stars and spend a night in Tunisia.

Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/den ... 2LL2T2X.99

I've lived with one for several months now on my Lenco / AT. It IS imperfect, but it fookin' boogies, and it melts your heart. By all accounts it is very well made, too. Bargain. IMHO.
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Andy-831
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Re: Cartridge for PL71

Unread post by Andy-831 »

Anyone male or female that listens to Dexter Gordon is cool in my book!
Analogue
401 / PU7 / AT33ev
Longdog Audio Quartz Garrard PSU.
Longdog Audio Phono stage (MCj1)
Digital
NVA BMU.
Innuos Zen / Caiman Seg and Dorado
Cambridge CXC
Amps
Tron Seven Linestage.
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Re: Cartridge for PL71

Unread post by karatestu »

Thanks for the replies (especially Dave's long list) :guiness;

I have a cartridge already - Lyra Argo (not the i version). Quite expensive when i bought it (£700 in 2002) Not loads of use but currently sat in a Naim Aro :shock:

specs (if they actually mean anything)

MC, low impedance, low output
10Hz - 50kHz
Channel separation: 30dB or better @ 1kHz
Cantilever: solid boron rod with line contact stylus (3 x 70 micrometers profile)
Internal impedance: 4 ohms
Output voltage: 0.45 mV (5.0cm/sec, zero to peak, 45 degrees)
Weight: 6.4g
Compliance: 12 x 10 -6
Rec tracking force: 1.7 - 1.8g

Stu
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Re: Cartridge for PL71

Unread post by Engypoos »

DENON 103 is a good cart if you liked the sound of them old stereogrammes. Not enough pizzas for me. The 110 is a stunner though and the best cart I've ever had for ignoring crackles etc on tatty records. Whereas any of the Ortofon 2M range will have you running for cover at the sight of a scuff !
Goldring 1000 range are great all rounders in my opinion. Just get the best you can afford. The 1042 is sublime.
Dynavector 10X4 is the best most dynamic cart with fantastic transients and tracks like it's on rails. My choice for a mid range system without a moments hesitation.
Audio Technica AT95 is a giant killer worth buying to make sure all is ok with the player/arm etc before going mad.
Grado's sound a bit soul less as do the Ortofon 2M range. Even the dearest Black sounds like it wants to stay in bed.
If you can pick up an Audio Technics AT25 fine line for a ton ....geddit. Good cart that they discontinued because it was to dear to make and over engineered and they couldn't shove the price up enough to make money on it.
Sumiko Blue point is a bit pedestrian like the grado's , a bit meek and mild for me.
Mind you ...nothing wrong with meek and mild if you like it. Look at Koetsu's . Cost a bomb and send you to sleep within minutes . ☺
Last edited by Engypoos on Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:47 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Cartridge for PL71

Unread post by Andy-831 »

Stu given the spec you have written, if you know the effective mass of the arm its a fairly simple sum to work out the resonant frequency of the arm and cartridge which ideally will between 9 and 11 Hz
Analogue
401 / PU7 / AT33ev
Longdog Audio Quartz Garrard PSU.
Longdog Audio Phono stage (MCj1)
Digital
NVA BMU.
Innuos Zen / Caiman Seg and Dorado
Cambridge CXC
Amps
Tron Seven Linestage.
Bel Canto Set 40, or LDA 300B Set Monoblocks
Speakers
Tannoy GRF Memory.
Tannoy ST100 Supertweeters

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Andy-831
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Re: Cartridge for PL71

Unread post by Andy-831 »

The following from Vinyl Engine suggests the arm is happy with cartridges from 4g through to 32g which seems to agree with Docs suggestion up the thread

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/pioneer/pl-71.shtml
Analogue
401 / PU7 / AT33ev
Longdog Audio Quartz Garrard PSU.
Longdog Audio Phono stage (MCj1)
Digital
NVA BMU.
Innuos Zen / Caiman Seg and Dorado
Cambridge CXC
Amps
Tron Seven Linestage.
Bel Canto Set 40, or LDA 300B Set Monoblocks
Speakers
Tannoy GRF Memory.
Tannoy ST100 Supertweeters

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karatestu
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Re: Cartridge for PL71

Unread post by karatestu »

Cheers for your help Andy. :guiness; Lyra argo is 6.4g so should be ok.
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