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Favourites: phono cartridges and phono stages

By Michael Jones and various hi-fi dealers

August 2006

Phono cartridges and phono stages

Grado Prestige Gold

Goldring G1000 series

Dynavector DV-20X

Cambridge Audio 640P

Dynavector P-75

Of all hi-fi components, phono cartridges are the component that AudioEnz writers see the least of. For some curious reason it’s harder to convince local distributors to supply fragile items that are impossible to resell than it is amplifiers or speakers. But between us, the AudioEnz team can recommend the following cartridges and phono stages.

Grado Prestige Gold $280

The top model in Grado’s Prestige range of cartridges, the Gold are the highest performing models from the cheaper Silver model. A high output makes the Gold an easy match for any phono stage and a replaceable stylus ($170) offers some piece of mind. Performance is remarkably good, with a lively and dynamic sound, free of any nastiness often found with cheaper cartridges. AudioEnz review

Goldring G1000 range $349-$649

A favourite with AudioEnz writers, with two using Goldring cartridges regularly, the Goldring range are easy to find in New Zealand due to a strong distributor. The four models in the G1000 range include a common body with user replaceable and interchangeable styli. A Goldring owner can upgrade their cartridge from the 1006 up to the 1042 merely by changing the stylus, offering an easy upgrade path.

Dynavector DV-20X $799

While the bottom of the Dynavector range, the $499 10X5, deservedly receives a lot of publicity, the next model up adds more subtlety and flexibility. Available in both high (2.8mv) and low (0.3mv) versions, the 20X matches either moving magnet or moving coil phono stages. The performance of the 20XH is full of subtlety and finesse, offering a classy reproduction of music. A laid back tonal balance (quite different to the 10X5) will split listeners, but there’s no doubting the overall quality of sound. AudioEnz review

Cambridge Audio 640P $249

A model in Cambridge Audio’s successful Azur range, the 640P is extremely well made and has a classy appearance. Outperforming the similarly priced NAD PP2, the 640P is natural and lively sounding with very low noise levels. A great little phono stage for moving magnet cartridges and for moving coils if your cartridge suits the Cambridge's fixed settings. This would be a bargain at twice the price. AudioEnz review

Dynavector P-75 $649

The Dynavector is an excellent all-round performer with a good range of adjustability, albeit accomplished via very fiddly internal jumpers. Sadly, the P-75 lacks the 47k Ohm setting that some people prefer for moving coils. The P-75 offers a huge jump in performance over cheaper phono stages and makes life very tough for phono stages at under several times the cost of the P-75. AudioEnz review

What the dealers say

Real Music Company, Wellington

Grado Prestige Black cartridge

Rega Exact cartridge

Sumiko Blue Point Special EVO III cartridge

Lyra Helicon cartridge

Cambridge Audio 640P phono stage

Naim Stageline phono stage

Grado Black $100

For those on a budget we use this cartridge a lot for the simple reason it punches way above its weight for non-Rega tone arms. (For Rega arms we predominately use Rega cartridges). The strengths of this cartridge are that it delivers what it can in a very musical manner, while not pretending to give an excess of detail at the expense of good musical fun. The assurance given in the bass lines and an accurate mid-range mean this affordable cartridge gives an out-standing performance. A good all-round, well-balanced cartridge at a very reasonable price.

Rega Exact $575

An indulgent match for our top selling Rega P3 turntable, the Rega Exact is a one piece design (like the rest of the Rega line-up) that plays off the lack of possible stylus replacement with the audible benefits of a rigid stylus mounting coupled with a perfectly flat machined headshell. All Rega cartridges are hand made by Rega UK, an investment that repays itself in outstanding quality control that lets us recommend this cartridge with confidence.

One of the distinguishing features of this well priced cartridge is the ability to time, often surprising customers in the way it presents a layer of rhythmic information they were previously unaware of. Perfect to lift a once bland system out of the mire, the mid-range is as authoritative as the bass is controlled. All-round this is a great cartridge to step a P3 into the next level or the ideal level to bring a Rega P5 to life.

Sumiko Bluepoint Special EVO III $800

For years this high output moving-coil cartridge has led the market for those wanting or needing a brighter lift off their vinyl than other options. Remarkably smooth in tonal balance with a staggering amount of detail this cartridge surprises on some systems that could have previously been considered a little slow or a little flabby.

The evolution of the ever-popular Blue Point Special, the EVO III raises the performance bar even higher at this highly competitive price point. Its tonal balance is remarkably smooth, exhibiting a fundamental richness and overall warmth without sacrificing musical detail and resolution. Sound stage focus and channel separation are praiseworthy, as is the cartridges’ ability to maintain a consistent musical whole.

Lyra Helicon SL $3000

Our Lyra range of cartridges range from the $1250 Dorian through to the extraordinary Olympos at $13,750. With that in mind the Helicon SL at $3000 looks like a relative bargain. The SL notates a “single layer of windings” special low-output version of the regular Helikon, requiring a phono preamplifier with particularly high gain and low noise such as the Naim Stageline S or K.

The beauty of the Helcon SL is its ability to voice evenly throughout the frequency range without any noticeable bulging in any one region – often mid to upper bass – that lesser cartridges deliver. Placed in the right system and with care taken in pre and phono amp selection this is a cartridge that redefines what home audio is all about. The synergy of the Helicon SL in a Naim system partnered with an LP12 is now legendary and almost obligatory with owners of that combination or owners of appropriate phono stages.

Phono Stages

We recommend and use three different levels of phono stage. The Cambridge Audio 640P, which has the ability to switch between MM and MC, is only $250. It has proven itself to be reliable and delivers a more than reasonable sound given its price.

Given the excellence of the Rega phono stages included in their integrated and pre-amplifiers, it comes as no surprise that their add-on phono stages also present a wonderful example of this underrated component. Given they are assembled by a company world famous for the musicality of their turntables it is clear that Rega have a no-compromise attitude to their Fono. There are two models, MM and MC at $500 and $650 respectively.

The new Naim reference series requires an outboard phono stage. It is not until you experience the greater sense of musical detail and some how the reduction in amplified “noise” that you can truly appreciate what a good phono stage can do for your turntable setup. The Naim Stageline ($850) comes in various matching levels to suit the cartridge being used. They require power from an additional source, either an appropriate Naim pre-amplifier or additional power supply. These start with the Naim i-supply ($360) and go up to (not unheard of!) Naim Supercap ($11,000).

Totally Wired, Dunedin

Dynavector DV-20X cartridge

Dynavector P-75 phono stage

I believe in the healing power of rock and roll. Get me through the working week, open a homebrew and put a slab of screaming guitar-driven vinyl on the old LP12 and I'm off in another world with tinnitus following close behind.

I could blather on about the qualities on a good number of cartridges I've owned and sold - over the years we've been down a whole series of tracks. Of course styli only hold their magic for so long and then it's either back to square one or time for a change. Personally I like a bit of variety and have yet to really meet any cartridge I couldn't get along with – some are just more engaging than others and so you tend to wear them out faster.

I've heard some things of rare beauty that I would immediately buy if we had the readies but like everyone else we find there is a case to be made for striking a balance between the delights of analogue and food on the table.

What we have found out is that the cartridge, while being very much a focus for analogue performance, is only part of a system. I'd like to remind readers and record nuts alike that the quality and set up of the turntable, and the same for the phono stage, can change anyone’s perceptions of how good a cartridge actually is - even the lowly OM10 can be satisfying in the right context.

But in a perfect world I believe everyone should be able to come home to a Dynavector DV20 - in either high or low output version. It would be easy to spend more on a set of tyres but I reckon the Dynavector is better than boy racer thrills.

I have no doubts it will do wonderful things with jazz, classical and Norah Jones, none of which hold much interest for me, so I might be dropping you in the deep end there. But people much wiser and greyer than me have long championed Dynavector so I'll defer to their far more refined tastes and suggest that quality music listeners will be as happy as I am with the said moving coil.

If you have the spare slush and an urge to consume, of course the more expensive models are better, but never confuse value for money with outright performance.

The brief for this rant also specified a phono stage. Assuming you don't already have something you have sunk a significant amount into (and believe me - this is very easy to do but we've never regretted doing so – you'll keep a phono stage through many cartridge changes and in many ways, the combination of a middling cost cart and a ripper phono stage is better than the converse), the newish Dynavector P-75 would be the no-brainer.

Chances are everyone else will have the same choice but why not - it's got the New Zealand connection, is capable of running with pretty much anything and needless to say is the perfect match for any of the sibling cartridges. I very much doubt there is an integrated or preamp built that wouldn't benefit from the addition of this little sucker regardless of how capable their inbuilt stage may purport to be.

Eastern Hi-Fi, Newmarket, Auckland

Goldring G1006 cartridge

Goldring G1042 cartridge

Goldring PA-1 phono stage

Project Phono Box SE

Goldring G1000 series

Goldring have a long and colourful history in hi-fi, and this year is their 100th anniversary as a company. They have been making cartridges as long as anyone in the business, and have a proven track record for quality.

The whole G1000 series (of which the G1006 at $349 is the entry level model) unite highly modern moving-magnet technology with excellent tracking abilities and an exchangeable stylus, which allows you to advance further up the range as funds allow.

Like most in it’s price range the G1006 is MM design so it has a high output of 6.5mV, making it suitable for 99.99% of phono stages out there. This cartridge makes a good upgrade from the ‘get-you-going’ cartridges that commonly come with turntables like the Project Debut. They also work well on Rega type arms. As a budget cartridge the Goldring G1006 is superlative value for money.

As you move up the range through the G1012 and G1022 cartridges the improvements in transparency and detail are quite obvious. The G1012 uses the acclaimed Gyger-2 diamond stylus. This is a fine-line type which gives smooth extended high frequencies, low distortion and reproduces a highly detailed and dynamic sound. Advanced diamond tip polishing ensures excellent tracking ability and reduces record wear. This retails for $469.

Moving one up is the G1022. The stylus in this cartridge is a Gyger-1 fine line-contact type, which provides increased resolution and ensures the maximum accuracy of musical reproduction. This retails at $549, which is getting a bit out of the budget range, but I think it is worth it.

A cartridge that I can always happily recommend to people who don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, but want fantastic performance for the money is the Goldring G1042. This is a MM design as well and so has a fairly high output of around 6.5mV, which makes it suitable for any phono stage out there. This cartridge is also the basis for many other companies cartridges, ie Audionote UK, DNM etc. The sound could be described as smooth and detailed, very musical in fact. The ability to replace the stylus is a huge bonus for those who want a cartridge that will last them for years. The stylus used is a Gyger-S which is good for extracting low level detail from the grooves.

We sell a lot of these on Project turntables and it seems to be a fantastic pairing, they just work really well together. I suppose the highest recommendation is the fact that I could happily live with one of these! It sells for $649.

Rigidity is also of prime importance in the interface between cartridge and tonearm and the Pocan body of these cartridges enable them to be clamped solidly to the headshell, which keeps energy losses to an absolute minimum. This is the same proprietry material Goldring use in their flagship Elite cartridges.

Goldring PA-1 phono stage $349

With the rekindled interest in all things vinyl we get a lot of people asking us about playing records on their hi-fi. Quite often they have systems dating from the mid nineties, sans phono option so Goldring’s PA-1 phono stage is a great product for those who want to add a turntable to their system. It is based on the highly successful Project phono stage, but has better power supply regulation, which in theory should lower the noise floor significantly. Goldring say they use ‘audiophile grade’ componentry inside this little box and whatever that means it sounds good to me. It has good tonal balance, a full musical sound, and none of the screech most low-cost phono preamps are noted for. It matches up well with Goldring’s cartridges (obviously) and is a perfect complement to any budget to mid price system. For $349 you can’t really go wrong with it.

Project Phono Box SE $499

If you want to take it to the next level we also have the Project Phono Box SE. This is a sexy sleek looking black box that has a sound to match. It features selectable impedance for MC cartridges, a subsonic filter if you need it, and it’s metal case shields the electronics from vibrational and electromagnetic interference. The circuit layout is completely dual mono to ensure good channel separation. I have tried one of these at home on my own system (with a Goldring cartridge) and found the sound is full bodied, natural and warm, with a surprising degree of detail. It is not the most open in the treble region but this serves to minimize the surface noise compared to the other models. It is well extended in the bass, the sound is spacious and there is good width and depth to the image, (if you’re into that sort of thing). This is an excellent phono stage for the money. The Phono Box SE is a pre-amplifier with a sound that far exceeds its modest price. It is sure to please anyone.

Soundline Audio, Christchurch

Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua $4000

Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua

Dynavector 10X5

The preferred analog source competent in the Soundline Christchurch store is the Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua.

This is the newest version of the Te Kaitora and features PCOCC coil wire. The Te Kaitora Rua is not cheap at $4000 but is completely unfazed with anything we throw at it with the exception of a brick. It is completely at ease in any system we have had the privilege to audition it with. It has been fitted in a variety of client's turntable and tonearm combinations, the results are predictably outstanding.

I am not attempting to ply the reader with all the analog "buzz words" that generally surround reviews of cartridges, confident in the knowledge that the Te Kaitora Rua is at the pinnacle of moving coil cartridge design. I also enjoy the associated New Zealand connotation that goes with the product.

Possibly the last genuine moving coil cartridge manufacturer (after all, they invented it) offering a complete range including high output models that avoid the use of nauseous step up devices and beginning at a paltry $499, such as the Dynavector 10X5. Dynavector continue to offer cutting edge technology, no frills perfectly adequate packaging and seriously good value for the money at all price points. Refreshing indeed.