So I've had a modest table for a couple years. Recently have decided to upgrade my cartridge to a DJ version{AT XP5}. It is supposed to have a higher output level 5.5 mv the stylus is bonded elliptical. Though compatible with all newer AT styli. of their newer VM lineup Conical through to Shibata.
Paired with a Project Box USBV.

Have any of you guys tried DJ or Pro cartridges. I'm hoping the next upgrade of stylus for coming cart to make biggest difference. As I think an Elliptical/Nude or higher would be the lowest level I would go to next.

Also knowing these are mere kids toys compared to 2x6,Slim, and Andrew type set ups. So far these are the best level I have ever purchased myself.
If you guys were starting your table upgrades from this level more entry. Where would you go?

Hello Mr. Brendo

I've never tried a DJ cartridge. I figure they're made to take a lot of abuse.

For a starter system, I'd go with an Ortofon 2M Red (deals can be found, $100 with head shell) and a TC753LC phono stage, decent, bare bones for around $50.

I see that Amazon no longer sells the excellent Yaqin MS23B tube phono state. I've used one and liked it a lot. It has 2 x 12ax7 tubes and is a great candidate for tube rolling. They used to go for around $200, can probably still be found on ebay.

Music Hall has a budget phono stage which I'm using on a beautiful Denon DP45F table with a Grado gold cartridge. Sounds very good.

Not sure this helped much, but good luck to you!

PS
So, why am I not using the Yaqin? The Yaqin has a metal canopy over the two tubes. I wanted to upgrade the tubes to a pair of Mullards (worth much more than the Yaqin). I unscrewed it but did not realize there was a spring under the canopy. Well, the spring sprung, the canopy bounced off the ceiling and I could never find the spring again. After that it had a hum I could not get rid of. Miss that little guy, When it was good, it was very good.

Philip, I would try disconnecting the RCA inputs (that are on the unit's chassis) from the board and connecting your RCA cables directly to the board connectors.

At the risk of Philips wrath, Not to mention the disdain of probably all the high-end guru's ....
I'd like to recommend a much less expensive phono amp alternative ...

A Pyle Audio PP999 phono preamp which can be had for about $15

This device has a single TI NE5532 low noise dual op-amp in it. IMO you don't need more for this application. I would not be surprised if a very similar circuit was in my 8805 preprocessor. That said I have not done any measurements on it mainly because it sounded fine to my ears (even with it's inexpensive wall wart power supply). I used it for years before buying the 8805.

Maybe Andrew can chime in and set me straight on why anyone would need something more as I'm always interested in learning a thing or two (especially when it comes to audio circuits)

Rich, do you not understand that if it doesn't have Shashimi resistors, it can't possibly be good? That's what makes the Airs so special.

Wrath free here! Inexpensive that works well is great. The TC753LC is a full preamp with a phono input and 3 or 4 other inputs. I have one in a giant tupperware holding many of my budget gadgets.

I have 7 sonic impact T-Amps which I was going to make into an inexpensive home theater 7 channel amplifier, a gaggle of Radio Shack super tweeters with Solen caps which I swapped for their 2 cent caps, etc., etc. Always looked for cheap giant killers. Gave up on that and crossed over to the dark side.

Oh, and speaking of sashimi resistors, when I received my pallet of the last of the Michaura M55s, M66s and M665s, I swapped the sand resistors for Vishays and Mills, and the caps with Duelands, Jupiters, Auricaps and Solens. They all sound great (they are Axiom made after all) but the pair with Duelands sound the best.

Philip, if you connect Shashimi resistors to the T amps, they'll sound like a million bucks. Their zero Ohm resistors sound very open and transparent.

OK, please send me a few!

Andrew is hoarding them for the Axiom electronics.

BTW, when I place a thin sheet of flattened cotton ball over my glorious v4 tweeters, they sound like v2. No air, no shimmer.

Another vote for "phone pre-amps can be pretty simple and still work well" as long as they have the basics like ground wires and decent PCB layout. I mention PCB layout because that only has to be done once and doesn't add to build cost except to the extent that additional layers are required.

I'm currently running a Pro-ject Carbon turntable with acrylic platter plus the Pro-ject MM/MC phono box. I was using an HK receiver with a built-in phono pre-amp but the new DAC/pre-amp didn't have phono input.

I'm probably going to go back to the HK for ripping vinyl to digital but that won't work until I get around to moving my office down to the basement (long story) but current setup is working well for now. Ortofon Red cartridge, and another "don't know much about DJ cartridges and figured they just had stronger shanks or something" opinion.

The zero ohm ones are just too darn expensive ... That's why the high-end stuff gets the big bucks!!

Mojo your brilliant!!

the product line name will be

-----> Z e r o O h m ----->

with the tag line

"don't let anything come between you and your music"

Now we just need a fancy box with a wire in it. Pricing TBD.

I love it. Let's Kickstarter it.

With the label "Shashimi Inside".

We need audio super conductors that won't smell like fish which died from gynecological complications.

I laughed for a few minutes over this. I guess I'd make a bad marketer.

Ha that would go over great here I'm in the land of Sashimi. You could market to both the Audiophiles and sushi crowds. The most recent record shop in my neighborhood is surrounded by sushi joints at least 4.

Through my research they market the Cartridge I've chosen as Audiophile/DJ. As far as I can tell. More durable stylus with higher output 5.5mv. Vs 3.5 on regular carts. According to manufacturer specs the stylus can track a little better for deeper Bass/details etc. Also it's not made for scratching or Hip hop DJing.

I picked up a Project Box USBV MM/MC. For the same as the Project MM Same E line but {top} of the 3 units. Before the S line. The MM has been rated top marks by most reviewers forever. So far it's much better than the one built in to my Fluance RT81

I was looking at the Pyle one for a bit here in Canada goes for $50. We always had a couple of their Guitar Amps. in house through my childhood. Good units back then they were built like tanks.

That makes sense - maybe trading off higher stylus pressure for better tracking on those bass lines you can see by looking at the vinyl

Hi Brendo,

Do you do DJ work? 2X6 is correct; they are made to take a lot of abuse and for "back-cueing"; rotating the platter backwards to cue up to the start of groove modulation. You can't do that with expensive, delicate cartridges or you'll damage the stylus assembly/cantilever.

If you don't do DJ work, then there really is no point in getting a DJ cartridge other than the aforementioned sturdy construction.

If you want to upgrade, then go to an upscale Grado (which I use), or a Shure, if they're still on the market. I've never been keen on Ortofon. they don't track as well on heavily modulated grooves as the Grado Signature line or the Shure V15s, and typically they don't have as smooth and flat frequency response. I'd still be using my Shure V15 TypeV if it hadn't gotten misplaced or lost in my move from New York back to Toronto.

In tests I did years ago with two turntables, the Grado Signature 8 tracked as well as the V15 TypeV. I had the Grado as a backup so it was little used, hence my use of it now.

Regards,
Alan

Thank you Alan.

That's my philosophy behind the D.J. cart is the stylus construction for the time being. I recently got my wife some of her favorite albums hence started her collection. Then upgrade to premium stylus down road.

In my recent research Shure is now collectors item territory. To which you can still get replica styluses. A friend of mine has 2 old tables and only likes uses Shure.

Will look more closely at Grado have a local shop with full lineup. Thank you

i almost ot a Grado, but love my Ortofon Blue, just my 2 cents. I haven't had any tracking issues and the dynamics and freq response is excellent.

So update the cartridge is a win in my opinion.
More detail highs and lows. With the higher output 5.5mv. vs standard 3.5mv. getting better loudness probably 10Db. Or at least that's about the level I've noticed. About 10Db less for same volumes.

Probably attributing to the better details I'm noticing. Not turning up the volume so much.