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Which direction to take?
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Pwog View Drop Down
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    Posted: 05 Apr 2019 at 2:00pm
Originally posted by BackinBlack BackinBlack wrote:

Welcome to the forum Colin.
In deciding which way to go, the first consideration has to be budget. A good MM such as those from Audio Technica, Nagaoka or Ortofon and A Reflex M will give you a most satisfying combination, even the Gram Amp 2SE will be a significant improvement over many phono stages.
Moving up to the Accession MM will bring about the best sound you'll get from MM.
Going on to MC cartridges will require considerably more investment to better the best of MM in my opinion. If your budget runs to good MCs then I believe that the Accession MC will get the best from them, but that is uncharted territory for me as yet.
The loan program is quite unique and an excellent way to decide on what you want.

Happy Listening
Ian 

Thanks for posting this Ian. I am currently using a Sumiko Blue Point Special on my turntable, but tomorrow I will be switching that out for an Ortofon 2M Bronze. I was in the same boat as Colin, wondering if I should stay on the MC track or switch to MM. In the end I decided to switch to MM, thanks to posts like yours and other research I did. I am in the process of organizing a loan program so I can make a decision between the Era Gold, Reflex M and Accession M.
Paul
Acoustic Research ES-1, Ortofon 2M Bronze, Ayre C-5xemp disc player, Dynaco SCA-35 (updated), Dynaco ST-70 (updated and modified), Revel performa M20, Accession M, CuSat 50 interconnects
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Aussie Mick View Drop Down
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Guy,
   If you like the RP6, wait just a little longer and get the Ania cartridge (MC) if MC is where you want to go. I’ve heard and thought it was quite excellent. Sweetening the deal is the Rega dealer offer of buying them as a bundle and saving plenty on the cartridge. Reviews of that combo ring true to my listening experience.
Mick.
Rega RP8 - Apheta 2 - Accession MC Enigma PS -Solo ULDE (Focal Utopia) - PS Audio M700 - Fical Kanta No2
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My Hana SL is doing a fine job for a reasonable price. I'd consider an SH if I hadn't already got an MC preamp.
Jon

Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC.
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To further muddy the waters I have a Ortofon 2M Black that I fell out of love with but I was saved from financial ruin Wink  in upgrading to full MC by buying a Hana SH which has brought me plenty of enjoyment.


I am currently running it through my Accession.
Steve

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Various bits of GSP Kit ..well two so far, unless you count the cables that is.
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Guy View Drop Down
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts & experiences everyone.

Once I borrow the Reflex M & Accession for an A/B comparison I'll know where I want to put my money & that will probably dictate my next move.

I think I'd like to go the MC route which will save me some money up front by getting a decent phono stage & not upgrading it down the line. 

What I haven't figured out is how to get there. 
I'm liking the Rega RP6 quite a lot & can get a new one for a good price sans cartridge but I don't have the budget for a new table, cart & phono stage at the same time.
If I hang on to the old MM Ortofon for a bit I'll still need a phono stage for it which means trading it in (or up as the case may be) down the line.

Time to put the seal on the piggy bank so I don't keep withdrawing when I'm a bit short.
Naim Supernait 3
Rega P8
Ortofon 2M Bronze
Naim CD5x
Flatcap 2
Rotel T11 tuner
AudioQuest Rocket 88s
Audioquest Chicago interconnect
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Hi Colin,
  I started out with a Reflex M and the Ortofon 2M Bronze and Black. Very happy for quite a while. However, I was offered the chance to grab a low mileage Rega Apheta2 MC and I took it, also investing in the Elevator as step-up. I’ve been extremely happy and haven’t felt a desire to change at all. 

However, I think my next cart might be a Music Maker 3. I’ll run it into my Reflex and if I love what it does enough, I’ll probably sell both Reflex and EXP and buy an Accession. I tried the Accession at home and the improvement over the Reflex was not subtle! Alas, I just didn’t have the dollars at the time. 

What’s my point? That I’m a very happy music listener with the Reflex. Had I needed to pay full price for the cartridge and buy the Elevator, I might’ve not done it. Yes, I find my current MC set up better than my old MM set up. Easily. But I bloody well should considering the cost of things. but I think I’d like to get back into MM/MI and see. The Hana carts look great to me (I’ve on,y heard one and enjoyed it very much), and they’re way cheaper than the MM3...

Enjoy the hunt!
Mick.
Rega RP8 - Apheta 2 - Accession MC Enigma PS -Solo ULDE (Focal Utopia) - PS Audio M700 - Fical Kanta No2
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Colin, 

I can't tell you what direction to take as it's a personal decision. 

FWIW the MC carts I've heard that impress me the most cost thousands of dollars. They are out of my budget so I don't worry about them. Instead I stick with high output MM and MI carts. 

Does that mean that I'll never try an MC in my system? No, but it's not a priority for me right now. Besides the cost factor, there are tradeoffs in introducing more noise into your system. 

In terms of "common man", sub-$500 cartridges, it is doubtful you will find any MC cartridge that will best a good high output MM or MI cart in terms of technical performance. In terms of subjective performance, well, that is entirely up to you and your tastes. If you decide to make a significant investment in a new MC phono stage and MC cart, I wouldn't do it without hearing the gear first. I realize that may be hard to do with some cartridges, but try to find a local dealer that has some on demo. 

If you stay on the HO MI/MM path, definitely try to audition a Reflex M or even Accession M. 
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