I use an RB1000 tonearm with a Goldring G1042 cartridge on my Manticore Mantra.

Over to you!

I agree! I'm really enjoying this cartridge at the moment on my Technics 1200. Worth a look at that price.

The AT VM95ML is hugely cheaper, but how does it compare?

There you are....

Yes, I owned both carts at the same time and eventually got rid of the 1042. I can't speak to the AN models that are based on the Goldring 1000 series because I haven't heard them, and AFAIK, they are a bit different in some respects (different cantilevers and diamonds at least). 

An 1Q1 or IQ2 with a 1042 would be my recommendation, considering you already have the stylus Ifor.

It’s my understanding that the IQ cartridge is common for the 1, 2, and 3 and that it is only the stylus assemblies that are different. Have I got this right?

I am just debating if it is worth getting an AT ART-9, or if I stick to a top end MM, or get something like a Music Maker?

I'm happy to steer clear of fussy setup.

So how much are they?

Struggling to find a price over here, and I was tempted to go for. €1k MC, but if people have already tread that path, then I am happy to take advice and benefit from experience.

For another £60 you can have it mounted in a custom metal body just as L*nn did with the K9/K18 variants of the AT95. Called a RigB. 

Place called The Audio Files produces them. Takes it to the next level in my opinion. 

Liked the 540 so much I went the whole hog & bought a VM760SLC. 

The best MM cart on the market at any price I reckon. 

lfc jon wrote: My Ortofon 2M Bronze will be in need of a replacement stylus in the near future. The cost of them has gone up a lot since I last replaced it (now £240) which I think is now very expensive and I also think I can do better with an alternative manufacturer. I've been hearing a lot of good things about Audio Technica, but not sure which one to go for. Any ideas would be appreciated or alternatives. It has to be MM.

What is the effective mass of your tonearm?

The RigB! AT540 ML is probably the AT cartridge to go for, but it all depends on what you are looking for.

I is the standard one that came with P**-J** Pro 

I was happy with the Bronze, but now feel a need for a change after listening to various cartridges on the same turntable as mine. I do like the detail I get from the Bronze but in my system the mid range is some what lacking with speakers, it's funny though listening through the SOLO with my Sennheiser HD 600 I'm slightly more happy, but I do tend to listen more through the speakers.

From my limited understanding, the micro line should give you better detail, as it sits deeper in the groove.

Current price of a new VM540ML with RigB! fitted, including postage is £271, so not particularly cheap, but cheaper than buying the VM540ML and adding the RigB! later.

I've mentioned this many times on here but the AT VM500/700 series come with a very big caveat and that is significant peaking at 10K or so if you try to load with 47K and a typical 200+ pf capacitance including cabling. The peak will be +3dB or a little more.

The way to tame that peak is to use loading resistors in parallel inside a set of RCA plugs with metal T-connectors and aim for a target load of ~36K along with a short, low-capacitance cable. This is basically what I do and my cable only has ~12pf per foot and is 2.5 feet long. I would have gone shorter but my gear rack couldn't accommodate it.

Putting a heavier metal shell on the cartridge body of the 500/700 isn't going to change the frequency response substantially BTW.

FWIW I don't recommend the VM95 series for your tonearm as the arm is too light for the stiff suspension of that cart series. It may "work" but sound a little anemic as it's not a good match. Some folks will try to add more weight via the heavy Soundsmith type cartridge screws or a weight plate but no free lunch as it may cause your counterweight to shift further back in a suboptimal position.

Don't bother with compliance calculators here as the Japanese specs don't work with those and there is no way to accurately convert them. You'll just get a bunk result and end up going in circles. Lots of misinformation around that on the internet unfortunately.

 

On another forum I have been told to steer clear of the VM95, so that's now not an option.

One member did ask me why I was considering a change of cartridge so I told him it was about the mid range. He said he has the 2M Bronze and finds it a good match as the cartridge is basically the same as the silver (both made by Ortofon and based on the 2M series) He's given me another option and that is a sub-platter change. Which is replacing the plastic sub-platter with an aluminium one. He said he heard an improvement in the mid range and bass. So now this is what I'm going to do.

The sub platter change won't affect the frequency response of your cartridge. It will tighten up the speed stability and reduce w/f, in theory, assuming it is made to better tolerances than the stock plastic one. Usually they are on these types of belt-drive turntables.

You're quite correct on reduced w/f, it's what I've been reading, but reviews and youtube videos have said about sound improvements too. Not too sure about the noise floor being reduced, which was also mentioned.

Usually with a better subplatter you get a better spindle as well. Typically the spindle sits in a sleeved bearing with oil and sometimes rotates on a ball inside the sleeve. Some Rega owners, for example, will use a magnet to remove the metal ball and replace it with a ball made of another material, such as ruby, ceramic, a synthetic material, etc. Sometimes that can reduce noise and make the turntable run a bit quieter.

More accurate speed and reduced noise may be perceived as a "tighter" sound to some. That said it still won't change the basic frequency response of the cartridge. The only way that would happen is if the turntable was running significantly fast (a problem with many Regas, for example) which effectively pitches up the music as whole. Taking the speed down to where it's supposed to be may be perceived as a less "bright and lively sound".

Note that the speed and the w/f are two different but related things. I don't know offhand if your particular turntable model has a reputation for running a bit fast or not. You can check it with a strobe disk if you are curious.

I do intend to change the sub-platter first and see what benefits it has over the stock one. The more I read up on it, the more I'm inclined to stick with the 2M Bronze. I was happy with it in the past so why mess with it, and make an expensive mistake.

Totally understandable not wanting to deviate from what works. I've tried a bunch of cartridges and have heard a bunch more, yet my daily driver cartridge is very similar to one I was using 10+ years ago so I have come full circle now.

If you want to stay with your 2M my recommendation would be to get a new stylus when the hours reach 500-600 or so.

I have now decided to stick with the 2M Bronze. 

I now have a click counter which I intend to use when I replace my stylus. One click for each side, I'm taking each album as on average lasts about 45 minutes long, this will give me a better idea of how many hours I've put on the stylus. The last time I nearly got to the point of damaging my records.

Thanks for giving me the hours of use, I thought it was longer.

Don't laugh, I use a spreadsheet, and reckon an album as 50 minutes.

Hopefully it's temporary while my favourite Decca London is off for repair.