Budget cartridge £150-£200

[alphatoner]

with the sad demise of my current everyday cartridge I am on the hunt for a new one. The old one an Ortofon is no longer available, so a change is in order.

However the big MUST is that it needs to be able to fit into an SPU G headshell. Please, please only suggest cartridges that you personally know will fit into a G type headshell. So any suggestions of "Not sure it will fit, but have you considered X" will be of no help at all. I appreciate very few will have experience of this but there may be one or two who have knowledge in this area.

I've put a call into cool gales who I am sure will have some suggestions, but there range is good but not very extensive.

Cheers

 

[rockmeister]

Wouldn't and cartridge with a narrow body and standard 1/2" fixings fit in? If this is on the end of a Jelco I guess you have sorted the maths of the added mass for compliance problems, but an alternative would surely be to return to the standard Jelco headshell and have a free choice?

I know this reply doesn't comply with your 'those in the know only' request, sorry! I'd call coolgales and let them advise you.

 

[gjm]

I think you're OK with a 'G'; the 'A' is a different story, as it is smaller and forms an enclosed 'box'.

An Ortofon SL15E will fit a 'G' headshell. Which means an SL15 will also fit (E=Elliptical stylus). These are 5/8" tall, 5/8" wide, 7/8" long, and have fittings at 1/2" centres positioned 3/8" from the back of the cartridge.

I've not checked, but I'd guess that this is a fairly standard size for a cartridge. Please do look for yourself!

 

[alphatoner]

No, any cartridge wont fit. For example any cartridge which only takes screws direct into the top (like some dynavctors and my air tight) would not fit. Cartridges where the stylus sticks out the front would likewise not fit. Cartridges with a built in guard would not fit. Graham gives the measurements of the SL15 The problem is not width or length it's the 5/8" depth top to bottom, partly because it would look very odd with a cartridge protruding below the headshell but also because i want to retain the use of the G stylus guard this factor alone limits it to cartridges with a maximum depth of 5/8" unfortunately most cartridge specs don't actually state the physical dimensions. This thread asa trying to avoid the agro of researching carts only to find it wouldn't fit.

I have other cartridges in standard headshells, but love the look of the SPU and would be loath to sell it and have yet another bog standard headshell.

 

[David.D]

A Denon DL103 will fit. However the stylus cover/protector won't.

 

[gjm]

The problem is not width or length it's the 5/8" depth top to bottom, partly because it would look very odd with a cartridge protruding below the headshell but also because i want to retain the use of the G stylus guard this factor alone limits it to cartridges with a maximum depth of 5/8" unfortunately most cartridge specs don't actually state the physical dimensions. This thread asa trying to avoid the agro of researching carts only to find it wouldn't fit.

I've always though SPUs look a bit odd, but that's just me. ;-)

So, a 'normal' sized cartridge in terms of length and breadth, but with (less than?) 5/8" height (basically a low-profile cartridge, and subject to suitable fixing) would be suitable?

 

[alphatoner]

I've always though SPUs look a bit odd, but that's just me. ;-) So, a 'normal' sized cartridge in terms of length and breadth, but with (less than?) 5/8" height (basically a low-profile cartridge, and subject to suitable fixing) would be suitable?

That's it exactly Graham, for fixing it has to be able to take a screw from underneath and be less than 5/8" or 15mm in height (including stylus tip). There are lots that will fit I'm sure, but as manufacturers don't tend to publish dimensions I can't afford to buy blind. I was just hoping for a few suggestions I could then check out matching against the arm. Obviously I would like a good match but it's not 100% critical. This cart is not for serious listening, I have other carts for that. Something like the denon 103 I know is a good match for the Jelco, but I can't find any size info anywhere. David.D says the guard wont fit but I'm not entirely sure that's accurate as I do know the 103R would fit but it's above my price range and I think the two have the same body it's only the internals that are different.

 

[Guest]

This thread needs photos for the uneducated :dunno:

 

[alphatoner]

Photo's of what exactly? As the OP I was looking for replies from educated people not the uneducated.

 

[Guest]

I can see i'm going to get no where....oh well, share the knowledge and all that, but it's fine......

 

[David.D]

The Shure V15 Type 111 fits OK with its stylus protector.

David

PS the only way to fit the stylus cover to the DL103 without accidentally touching the stylus is to remove the headshell from the arm - and even then it is a tight fit.

 

[russ abbott - royds broth]

I can see i'm going to get no where....oh well, share the knowledge and all that, but it's fine......

http://www.adventuresinhifiaudio.com/22/06/2010/a-short-history-of-ortofon-pick-up-cartridges/

 

[alphatoner]

The Shure V15 Type 111 fits OK with its stylus protector.David

PS the only way to fit the stylus cover to the DL103 without accidentally touching the stylus is to remove the headshell from the arm - and even then it is a tight fit.

David maybe you missunderstood what I meant. I'm talking about the SPU stylus guard. that fits over the full underside body of the SPU.