CARTRIDGES ll50-t235

Needle craftThey might be small, but phono cartridgescan make or break your vinyl replay. EdSelleVlooks at six moving magnet options

FOR SOMEIIIING BARELY largerthan a glacier mint, a phono cartridgehas a huge influence on your vinylperformance. Responsible for tumingthe groove of a record into anelectrical signal it has a tremendouseffect on the performance of theturntable as a whole. These littlewonders are high on the list ofcomponents vinylistas look to in thepursuit of performance upgrades.

Many affordable tumtables aresupplied with carrridges in thef40-f80 range and it is logicalenough to consider designs fromf 150 to replace them.

This f150-É230 price point is alsokey for anyone looking for a cartridgeto go with ttre É500-f800 turntablesthat are a step up over t}re enny-levelmodels and are less likely to besupplied with a cartridge from new.Here are six designs that sit withinthis price point that will be suitablefor either group of tumtables. Allsix are high output designs, whichpredominate at this price point, andshould workwell with the movingmagnet phono stages more commonlyencountered on similarþ priced

amplifi ers. Additionally, as movingmagnet designs, most models canhave their stylus replaced to increasethe life of the camidge.

Cartridges, like the rest of thecomponent parts of turntables, aremechanical engineering rather thanelectronic and improvements in thisfield generalþ come at a higher cost.Improved materials and more

A cartridge has atremendous effecton the performanceof aturntablesophisticated design practices can beemployed at this level that shouldhave a positive effect on perfoÍnance.These six models should offer betterfrequency response, improvedchannel separation and less roll off atthe frequency extremes. This shouldtranslate to a more vivid and visceralpresentation than budget rnodels canproduce, which should start to showwhat vinyl is capable off. So, do ourpint-sized superstars deliver? >

æ&aoAudio-TechnicaAT-rt4OMLa€195p25The flagship movingmagnetoffering in theAudio-Technica range,the AT44OlvlLa is adual-magnet designthat's in a compactchassis shared withA-T'sotherMMdesigns, that havea stylusguard

Clearaudioe,onceptv2MM€15Op27Clearaudio's entry-level cartridge sharesmany attributes withthecompanybmoreexpensive offeringsand liketheother lvlMmodels has recentlybeen upgraded to V2status with a selectionof improvements

Goldringltt2oK8235p29The mostexpensivecartridge in this grouptest is also one oftheoldest models. TheGoldring remains apopular choice andis a very highlyregarded designthanksto itsGyger2diamond stylus

GradoPrestigeGoldl€160p31The only moving ironcartrldge inthe roundup, the Gold l istheflagship model inGrado's Prestige seriesand istaken from thetop 5% measuredperformers of theidenticâlly specifiedSilvermodel

NagaokaMP-150EZ29p33Long-standingJapanese cartridgemanufacturerNagaoka specialises¡n moving mêgnetdesigns and theN/P-15O is right ln themiddleof ¡ts range ltlooks retro, butthespec is contemporary

Ortofon2M Blue€17Op35A popular favourite,the2M Blue is partofthe premium Ortofonmoving magnet rêngeand features ê numberofdesign featuresdeveloped for moreexpensive models,as well as a stylisedindustrialdesign

SEPTEMBER2oI3 lfflütrhe 23

CARTRTDGES Ê150-t235

Needle craftThey might be small, but phono cartridgescan make or break your vinyl replay. EdSelleylooks at srx moving magnet options

FOR SOMETHING BARELY largerthan a glacier mint, a phono cartridgehas a huge influence on your vinylperformance. Responsible for turningthe groove of a record into anelectrical signal it has a tremendouseffect on the performance of thetumtable as a whole. These littlewonders are high on the list ofcomponents vinylistas look to in thepursuit of perfornance upgrades.

Many affordable turntables aresupplied with carridges in thef40-f80 range and it is logicalenough to consider designs fromf 150 to replace them.

This É150-f230 price point is alsokey for anyone looking for a cartridgeto go with the f500-f800 turntablesthat are a step up over the entry-levelmodels and are less likely to besupplied with a cartridge from newHere are six designs that sit withinthis price point that will be suitablefor either group of turntables. Allsix are high ouçut designs, whichpredominate at this price point, andshould work well with the movingmagnet phono stages more commonlyencountered on similarþ priced

amplifiers. Additionally, as movingmagnet designs, most models canhave their stylus replaced to increasethe life of the cartridge.

Cartridges, like the rest of thecomponent parts of turntables, aremechanical engineering rather thanelectronic and improvernents in thisfield generally come at a higher cost.

Improved materials and more

A cartridge has atremendous effecton the performanceof aturntablesophisticated design practices can beemployed at this level that shouldhave a positive effect on perfoÍnance.These six models should offer betterfrequency response, improvedchannel separation and less roll off atthe frequency extremes. This shouldtranslate to a more vivid and visceralpresentation than budget models canproduce, which should start to showwhatvinyl is capable off. So, do ourpint-sized superstars deliver? >

Audio-TechnicaAT-44OML.a€195p25Theflagship movingmagnetoffering in theAudio-Technica range,the AT44ON/La is adual-magnet designthât's in a compactchassisshared withA-T's other Mlvldesigns, that havea stylusguard

ClearaudioConceptV2MMÊ15Op27Clearaudio's entry-level caftridgesharesmany attributes withthe company's moreexpensive offeringsand likethe other MMmodels has recentlybeen upgraded to V2status w¡th a selectionof improvements

Goldring1012GXÊ235p29The most expensivecartrìdge in this grouptest ìs also one oftheoldest models TheGoldring remains apopular choice andis a very highlyregarded designthanks to its Gyger 2diamond stylus

GradoPrestigeGoldl€160p31The only moving ironcaftrldge in the roundup, the Gold 1 ìstheflagship modelinGrado's Prestige seriesand istaken fromthetop 5% measuredperformersof theidentically specifiedSilvermodel

NagaokaMP-1508229p33Long-standingJapanese caftridgemanufacturerNagaoka specialisesin moving magnetdesigns and theMP-150 is right in themiddleofitsrange ltlooks retro, butthespec is contemporary

Ortofon2M Blue€17Op35A popular favourite,the2M Blue is partofthe premium Ortofonmov¡ng mâgnet rangeand features a numberof design featuresdeveloped for moreexpensive models,as wellas a stylisedindustrialdesign

SEPTEMBER2Ol3 l*flgtolce 23

udio-Technica has beenmaking carüidges fordecades and its movingmagnet range has been

around for many years withoutserious alterations. The AT440MLais the company's flagship movingmagnet design and only the colourdistinguishes it from the less

expensive models. Internally theAT440MLa makes use of a signalgenerator that utilises dual magnetsand a single run of copper for theentire assembly This is intended toreduce loss through internal wiring.The Audio-Technica AT440MLa is theonly design in the group of cartridgeswith a stylus guard attached to thebody, which is potentially useful ifyou are the sort of person thatroutinely loses them.

The AT440MLa is a little fiddly to fitas the cartridge body is fairly smalland the mounts are not threaded,which means that it needs both nutsand bolts to connect it. By the same

token, the cartridge pins are wellspaced and easy to attach the cablingto and the tracking forcerequirements should not be a problemfor any turntable you are likely toconnect it to. The accessories thatcome supplied are not especiallygenerous, but the packaging is

usefully substantial.

Sound qual¡tyThe AT440MLa manages to sharesome of the characteristics of otherAudio-Technica items that have

passed through Hi-Fi Choice in recentyears. The performance is wellbalanced from top to bottom and thisgives Little Feats' Rock and Roll Doctoran impressive sense of drive andclarity and there is a pleasing sense

of life and energy to the performanceas well.

The tonality of the Audio-Technicais also commendable. Ray Charles'piano in Sinner's Prayer sounds

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convincing and impressively fullbodied. The separation is also good

and there is a useful sense of theplacement of perfotmers in an easy tofollow soundstage. With the truly vastperformance of All That You Give atthe Albert Hall, the AT440MLa makesa very commendable effort atre-producing the scale of the venueand the large group of musicians is

well represented.The news isn't all good, though. The

AT440MLa seems more prone thanmost of the other cartridges in the testto picking up and emphasisingsurface noise on records, which canaffect the performance. There is also a

slight lack of fine detail to the way theAudio-Technica goes about makingmusic, which means that this is moreof a 'big picture' cartridge than one

"åå'ðlB858GROU EST

VÃLUE FOR MÕzuEY

****

While not quite the highest output MM in ourgroup at 4.2mV the AT440MLa is one ofthebesttrackers and offers very low levels ofdistortion. With a mere 1.49 downforce itsailed through our top +18d8 test groove

suffering a mere 0.5% THD. Compliance is

quite high at 35cu so this lightweightcârtridge is also best suited to medium or

light effective mass lonearms. Arm dampingwould be worthwhìle (where available) tohelp quell the +15d8 peak at resonance.

You might also tinker with your preamp's

ML4 loading capacitance to tailor the A-T's

bright upper treble (+4dB at 12kHz). This ìs

also has the potential to make LP surface

noise more obvious. Equalised distortion isthe lowest here at <2% (-BdB re. 5cm/sec)

r¡ght across the aud¡o range, although therolled-off extreme treble G4dB/20kHz) also

has the effect of suppressing ultrasonicdistortion harmonics. PM

RESUTTS ATA GTANCE

Outputlevel

Tracklng ability

Frequency responsg

Distort¡on

Genorator symmetry

KEú IGroup average¡I%belowaverage D%aboveaverage

that will tell you everything about therecording in minute detail. With thefinal Boards of Canada recording,there is also a sense that comparedwith the group leaders, theAT440MLa also trades off a smallamount of depth, although the bass itdoes produce is clean, fast and wellintegrated with the rest of thefrequency range.

The AT440MLa does more rightthan it does wrong and is an easy

cartridge to listen to across a widevariety of music. As one of the moreexpensive options in the test, there isa sense that some of the sameperformance can be achieved for less

while other designs offer more o Þ

OUR VERDICT5TUzuD qUAt¡TY LIKE: Smooth,

enjoyable sound; solidbuild and easy ontonearms

DISLIKE: Some loss off¡ne detail; sens¡tivetosurface noise

WESAY: A likeable

****

caftridge with goodbut not

ñ

Audio-TechnicaAT44OMLaGtesThis A-T cartridge is mighty fiddly to fit, but it's wellworth the effort thanks to it's very likeable sound

Moving magnetcaruidge

wEtGr-tT6.5s

FE/qruffS.outputvoltage¡4,0mV

' . lracking welght:1.759. Cartrldge welght:6.0s

'.Stylustype:Microllne. cantileveftype:alloy

OI!¡IRIBUTORHenley Deslgns

TEIEPHONE012355ff166

WEBSffEeu.audio-tEchnica,com/

AÙILDOUAL!TY

****FgATURES

**** performance,the complete package

æVEßÃ8"å"

****

Ghoice

t-

SEPTEMBER 2013 HHIGIÚKt 25

learaudio produces everyaspect of the vinylreproduction chain fromcartridges to complete

turntables and its range extends tothe ultra high-end. The Concept V2 is

the least expensive cartridge in thecompany's extensive moving magnetportfolio and as such is the leastexpensive one it produces. Themoving magnet cartridges haverecently been updated to V2 stafllsand include less resonant bodies,more powerful magnets and boostedoutput voltage.

Although this is one of the cheapestcartridges in the group, tlis not is

immediately ciear when you first clapeyes on the Concept. The metal bodyis well finished and attractive. It is

supplied in excellent packaging andcomes complete with a useful set oftools to get it up and running. Theseinclude handy extras like a choicebetween screws and allen boltsdepending on your tonearm.Clearaudio has fitted the Concept V2with a threaded body which meansthat fitting it is simple - something tobear in mind if you are a novice tothese things. Less good news is thatlike the rest of the range, thecantilever is comparatively long so

the cartridge worl$ best on arms withVIA adjustment.

Sound qual¡tyThe Clearaudio has a distinctivepresentation that for the most part is

very appealing. The performance is

extremely clear and open and thereis a sense of agility that gives theuptempo Little Feat a really appealingsense of life and energy There is littlesense of bloat or overhang even withcomplex material and the Concept V2produces a very large and opensoundstage that really comes into itso'urm with the Cinematic Orchestra,which sounds absolutely vast.

Voices and instruments are wellhandled and the Clearaudio extracts

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a huge amount of detail fromrecordings. This clarity means thatwith the Boards of Canada piece,

the performance is possibly the bestin the group. The calm, if ever so

slightly clinical presentation of theConcept really gels with the sparseelectronica and the effect is trulyexcellent. Surface noise is alsocommendablylow.

The do¡¡msides are not too severe,but do need to be taken into account.With the Avid,zSME combination, theVIA can be adjusted to the ideal andthe Clearaudio puts in an excellentperformance. With the Rega RP6, thefixed position of the arm gives aslightly'stern down' attitude and thisrobs the Concept V2 of some of itsbass extension. This is a particular

"AïT]B353GROU EST

lf you value a flat frequency responsethenClearaudio's Concept V2 ls as straight ãs a

die out ro 14kHz (r1dB) after which it rollsaway to -6dB/20kHz (lateral) and

-11d8/20kHz (veft ical), suggesting thalcentral pedormers in the soundstage willsound a little brighterthan those at theedges. the 3.3mV output level (re. lkHz etScm/sec) is bang-on specification and thissample's 07dB channel balance well withinClearaudio's 2dB target (>1dB will beaudible). Unequalised distortion is a littlehigher than average at 3.3% (1kHz/OdB), butthe equalised curves show a gentle increasefrom 1% at lkHzto a maximum of 6% at 7kHz,

falling thereafter. Compliance is lower thanyou might expectfrom a MM at 14cu,

suggest¡n9 thal medium to high mass armsare better suited, but at the high 2.29

recommended downforce it tracks rightthrough thetop 80¡rm bands. PM

RESUTTS ATA GTANCE

output level

Trackingab¡lity

Frequency responBe

Distortion

G€nerator symmetry

l(Flì I Group average,l % below âverage D o;6 above average

problem because it doesn't have themost powerful bass extension evenwhen the VIA is set correctly Thedepth there is has speed and detail,but the result is that the Concept V2can sound a little lean compared withsome models tested.

This should not detract from whatis a very fine cartridge, though.Considering that the Clearaudio is

the cheapest cartridge in the test,the excellent build and suppliedaccessories are very welcome and thesound is fast, open and enjoyable,although some listeners may wantmore warmth. with a suitabletonearm, this is a veritable bargainand deserves an audition o >

OUR VERDICTSOUND QUÂL!TY LIKE: Fast, deta¡led

and open sound;excellent build

ClearaudioGonceptV2GtEoA cost-effective solution from the German analoguemaestro with a very likeable performance

' . output voltâgê:3.3mV

trDETAIISPAGlearaudloConceptV2

oRrorNO6rmany

.ñPEMovingmagnetcarùldge

wsGlß8As

RES

.Tracking we¡ghtl2.Og. Cartridge welghti8'og.stylusBDe!Microline. cantt'lével type:alunlnium

Sound Fowndations

ONE012765q392

wESSmolearaudlo.de

DISLIKE¡ Best in armsw¡th WA adjustment;can sound lean

****t

****tpriced cartridge withlikeablefeatures. butresultsare dependenton theturntable

BUILD QUALITY

*****FËAlURES

WESAY: A keenly

ovERAr-r****J

HM

Þ-

SEPTEMBER 2013 Hl{10úhê 27

GoldringlOl2GX E2s5

Goldring's 1O12GX is a long standing favourite thatstill has plenty to offer at the price point

GIiis the second cheapest of the four. Themain difference between the modelsis their stylus assembly, which gets

progressively better as you go up therange. The 1012GX ditches theelliptical stylus of the base model andsubstitutes a Gyger 2 diamond stylusinstead. This is interchangeable withthe more elaborate models as well,which offer an interesting potentialupgrade possibility further down theline in the future.

The Goldring is supplied with veryrobust protective packaging and auseful selection of tools and fixingsto attach it to the toneaûn ofyourchoice. Howeve4 connection is not as

pain-free a process as it is with someof the other designs here. The body isunthreaded and the way that it slopesto meet the mounting plate meansthat installation can be a little tricþto saythe least. The 1012GX alsohas a slightly different arrangementto the pins on the back as they arerather unevenly spaced, whichcomplicates matters further. Theftacking and anti-skate requirementsare benign, howeve4 and the buildquality of the cartridge is acluallyvery good.

Sound qual¡tyThe Goldring shows reasonablyquickly why it has been such a

popular choice for so many years.

This is a cartridge with a very evenand unforced performance thatsounds big and exciting with mosttypes of music. There is also a senseof timing and musicality that givesLittle Feat an engaging drive andenergy that is very likeable andgenerally gets the head nodding. Partof this perceived musicality is theimpressive bass response thatunderpins the rest of the performance

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and gives the Goldring a great deal oflow-end grunt.

This is especially helpful with theCinematic Orchestra piece and the1012GX has a sense of scale that isvery near the top of the group witha genuinely convincing portrayal ofthe Alben Hall and the audiencearranged around the performers. Thesoundstage is intricate and there isimpressive fine detail that aids thesense of realism.

The only real problem with theGoldring's performance is that whenyou want it to be a little bit moreintimate - as you do with the RayCharles piece - it still sounds ratherbig. There is a slight over emphasis tothe piano and the effect is less subtleor nuanced than some of the othercartridges here. The effect is a bit

"É,SIB8å8 GROUPTEST

Despite being equipped with a line-contactFG2 diamond, this Goldring lVlr4 does notoffer a super-extended frequency response.As with other Goldrings tested previously,

the 1012GX has a boosted presence band (up

to +4dB from 4-10kHz on the right channelhere)which will give recordings plenty of'zing' even though the extreme trebledisappears to -6dB/2okHz. Distortion alsopeaks through the upper midrange, althougha maximum of 5-6% here (vertical and lateralal -8dB) ând 1-2% below lkHz still ranks as

very good. Puzzlingly, the 3.2mV output iswell below Goldring's 6.5mV specificationjust as the compliance is closer to 30cu than20cu. Nevertheless, the latter does aid itssuperb tracking performance - clearing80¡rm lateral groove modulalions and sailingthrough the +18d8/300H2 test track at just

0.5% THD at a mere 179 downforce. Mediumto lightweight arms are prefened, PM

RESULTS ATA GTANCE

Outputlevel

Trackingability

Frequency response

Dlstortion

trGeneratorsymmetry

KEY: lGroupaverageI 7o below average D% above average

more complex than merely having a

high ouçut (although this is healthyenough), but simply that the scale ofthe performance doesn't change quiteas readily as some of the competitionon test here.

And in the end, it is the strengthof the competition rather than theweakness of the Goldring that costs itsome points in the test. This is themost expensive cartridge here andalthough it is sonically capable, wellbuilt and comes with a good range ofaccessories, there are other cartridgesthat can match it for a little less

money The 1012GX still delivers afine performance, but the competitionis gettingtoughero >

OUR VERDICTSOUruÞ QUALITY LIKE: Lively and

energetic sound;good build

DISLIKE Doesn'thandle smallscalemusic as well; fiddly

WESAY A capablecartridqethat'sengagi-ng, but Priceand lack of small scaleability countagainst it

****t

gT,E*ALE.

Movingmagnetcâftfldg€

IA'EIGHf

RES.outputvoltage:6,5mV

63s

Gyget2. Cânt¡le\re¡ typehard alloy

FEÂTURES****t

****

HM

SEPTEIVIBER 2013 Hi'fiñolce 29

GradoPrestigeGold I ercolf - as the old saying goes - simplicity is a virtue,the Grado Prestige Gold 1 is very virtuous indeed

ot content with simplydominating the worid ofheadphones, Grado hasbeen producing a range of

phono cartridges for decades. Unlikethe other five designs here, the Gradois a moving iron cartridge. This meansthat instead of a magnet on the endof the cantilever to generate acurrent, a small piece of iron is used.This should reduce the tracking forceat the same time that it increases theaccurac]4 The Gold 1 is the flagshipcartridge in the Prestige series fiustbelow the more expensive Referencerange) and interestingly, the Golds

¡ are taken from the top performing5% of the Silver models, which areotherwise identical.

Like the company's headphones, theGold t has a slightþ rerro streak to itssryling and is also a comparativelysmall cartridge. The build andmaterials used are very good, but thepackaging is the very definition ofminimalist, consisting as it does ofan open-ended tube that uses thedocumentation to wedge thecartridge in place. The narrow bodyand unthreaded mounts makes fittinga little tricþ The fiddly stylus guardand lack of colour marking on thepins also serye to make the wholeprocess more awku¡ard than it shouldbe. The tracking force requirementsare easy to accommodate, though.

Sound qual¡tyThe most immediately noticeablefeature of the Grado's performalce is

that this is a cartridge with very lowsurface noise and a high tolerance ofless than perfect vinyl. There is muchto like about the actual audioperformance as well.

The Gold 1 is extremely smooth andrefined and the presentation of theRay Charles piece is wonderfullybeguiling with plenty of richness anddetail to voices and instruments. Thebass performance is slightly deceptive

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in that the Grado has a surprisinglydeep and potent low end, but theresult is still refined.

This means that the presentationwith the Cinematic Orchestra is veryconvincing with plenty of space andincidental detail to it. For the mostpart the Gold 1 presents analoguemusic with a sense of effortlessnessthat is hard not to like.

Howeve4 the Grado is less assuredwhen asked to pick up the pace withthe Little Feat recording proving a bitmore challenging. It remainsextremely civilised and almostcompletely unflappable, but theperformance never seems to havesome of the excitement that the othercartridges are able to bring to thepart¡r With the Boards of Canadarecording, the Grado seems slightly ill

"åË'ðlB353GROU EST

The technìcal performance of Grado'sPrestige Gold has'rock'n roll'stamped all

over it, ln line with other Grados, this modelshows a broadly raised midrange, depressedpresence and stinging +3-4dB riposte at14kHz, which is followed by a dip of -6dB at20kHz. Grado specifies an output of 4mV but2.7mV (re. lkHz/5cm/sec) proved closer tothe mark here. Tracking is good to the +'l5dB

band at 1.59 and the '20cu compliancesuggests most medium effective mass armsw¡ll suit. However, the Prestige Gold's LF

resonance is vigorous at +20d8 so if yourarm offers some extra damping, you shouldemploy it. Unequalised distortion is quitehigh at 4% (1kHz ât Scm/sec) just as theequalised trace hits 11% at SkHz ând 15%+ at20kHz. While these ultrasonic harmonics are

inaudible, they are a reflection of theextended output from the Prestige Gold 1 forwhich Grado claims a 55kHz bandwidth. PM

RESULTS ATA GTANCE

outputlevel

Tracking ability

Frequency responsê

Distoriion

Generator symmetry

KFÍ IGroupaveragetl%belowaverage D%aboveaverage

at ease and the very deep bass notesare robbed of some of their impactand drive. The sense is that thiscartridge is happier with slower andsimpler recordings rather than beinga true all-rounder.

The result is that it excels in someareas, but doesn't quite match theperformance of the best in the group.While it is fair to point out that theGold I is one of tìe least expensivecartridges here, the similarly pricedClearaudio and Ortofon offeringsdeliver more capable all-roundperformances and are better specifiedand easier to fit. The Grado isexcellent at what is does, but thereare better options available o Þ

OUR VERDICTSOUT{Þ 8UÂLITY

****LIKE: Detailed, smoothand very beguilingpresentation

DISLIKE: LesscaPablewith up-temPomaterial; tricky to install

WESAY: A verycivilised and capablecaftridgewith somemusic, but less happyw¡th uptempo material

\JÂtU€ FOR ññOruEY

****

æVERALfu

trDETAIISo

Grado PrestigeGoldl

INUSA

TYPEMoving ironcartridge

r EGtfT5.59

tEAruRE;.Outgutvoltage:4.0mV.Track¡ng weight1.Es.caruidgeweighü5'59.Stylustypeellipücal

' . Cantllever type:four-pieceOTL

ArmourHomeRectronics

TCI.EPHONÊû12795(}fl11

WEBSfrEgradolabs,com

SUILÞQUAL¡TY

****FEÂTUFEÉ

***

***i

Ghoice

SEPTEMBER 2013 H}fIHÚ|CE 3I

NagaokaMP-|5O î22sThe design of this cartridge might be from a bygoneera, but the sound of the M Pl50 is bang up to date

"åå'ðlB353GROU EsT

All Nagaoka's MMs are based around a

similar 'moving Permalloy'generator, but as

the stylus assembly refines up the rangethere are improvements in response,separation and distortion. Th¡s ¡/P-150model offers a healthy 4.5mV output (re.

lkHz at 5cm/sec) and a low 2.5% distortion(1kHz, unequalised), but boasts a moreextended and'vivid'presence band than thecheaper MP-100, up +2dB from 4kHzl4kHzbefore the extreme treble drops away to-9dB/20kHz. There's good symmetrybetween the L+R and L-R responses, so theMP-150 should deliver a broad andconsistent soundstâge with no oneperformer unrealistically dominant. Trackingis good too, on a par with the Ortofon 2MBlue if not quite in the league of the A-T orGoldring. Compliance is moderate butsymmetrical aga¡n at 27cu, suggestingmedium to low mass arms. PM

RESULTS ATA GTANCE

Outputlevel

Trâcking ability

Frequency response

Dlstortion

¡Outputvoltage:FEAruRES

.trDETAILSot cf

NagaokaMP-l50

oßotNJapan

ÏYPEMagnetodynamicPermalloy

: Vì,EGHTG.5g

4.5mV. Tracklng weighti

agaoka has been inbusiness for over 70 yearsand regards itself as aprecrsron engneenng

company that makes phono cartridgesamong other pieces of specialistmachining and matching processes

rather than a dedicated audio brand.The MP-150 is roughlyhalfway up

the range and adds a taperingcantilever over the less expensivemodels. It is finished in a veryparticular shade of green that rathermakes it look like it has droppedthrough a hole in time from I976,btttthe specification including the carbonfibre reinforced body is right up todate. The MP-150 is also suppliedwith the best packaging of the group,which puts some rather moreexpensive designs to shame. Nagaokaalso provides some useful tools to getthe cartridge set up.

Installing the MP-150 is alsorelatively simple. The mounts areunthreaded, but the relatively bigbody is easy to mount and install andthere is nothing especially tricþabout the tracking and alignment.

Sound qual¡ty.The Nagaoka has a number ofcharacteristics that impress rightfrom the outset and suggest thatthe company's recent absence fromthe market has been our loss. Theother interesting aspect of theperformance is that there ispractically no variation in the traitsthat it demonstrates across the two

turntables. The MP-150 manages tocombine a powerful and lively soundwhen required with impressivesubtlety when it isn't. Theperformance with the Little Featrecording is genuinely entertainingwith tremendous drive andexcitement coupled with anexceptionally sweet top end that iscompletely free from both brightnessand aggression.

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With the more refined Ray Charlesand Cinematic Orchestra pieces, theNagaoka retains a sense of agility andcontrol, but doesn't force the slowerpieces or bring unwanted scale to theperformances. The soundstage is

beautifully composed and very easyto follow The handling ofvoices andinstruments is rarely less thanunfailingly believable as well. TheNagaoka is commendably unaffectedby surface noise and these features allcombine to give a sense ofconsiderable d1'namic range.

With the more unconventionalBoards of Canada recording, theMP-150 slightly softens some of theperformance taking some of theintensiry away but equally itmaintains the expansive soundstageand excellent panning that the piece

Generator symmetry

KEI: I Group average

e%belowaverâge D%aboveaverage

requires to really shine. If I am beingvery picþ it is probably fair to saythat the Nagaoka can't find some ofthe very fine detail that theClearaudio can extract, but then theConcept V2 cannot match theincredibly engaging musicality thatthe MP-150 brings to such a widevariety of music.

Take a look at all of these attributesas a whole and the result is a verycompelling cartridge tïat seems to behappy in a variery of setups. 'Whenyou take into account the excellentbuild, straightforward fitment and theuseful tools supplied to help you dothe job, the Nagaoka makes a verypersuasive case for itself o >

OUR VERDICT9€U2¡!QUÂLITY LIKE:Powerfuland

*****

***f f ensa-sins.sound;..-.1...:.:. .:..ì. .1.ì... 1.1. excellent build; veryvaLUÉFoRñ402€y easyinstallation

****t DlsLlKErNothreaded

6UILÐQUALITY

*****body; very slightsoftness to bass

WE SAY: A suPerblycaoable and well-soited cartridge with a

fantastic Performãnce

OVERdhB-Ê.

FیTUftES

*****

llM

SEPTEMBER 2013 HH¡ftOICE 33

r

Ortofon2üBlueEno

rtofon is omnipresent atpretry much every pricepoint and design categoryyou can find cartridges for

sale, and the size of the companymeans that it can bring someinteresting resources to the party as

well. The distinctive design of the 2Mrange comes courtesy of a partnershipwith Møller Jensen Design and isintended to mimic the cut diamondof the stylus.

The 2M Blue is the second up in afour-strong range of 2M cartridgesand makes use of bespoke split polepins, which Ortofon believes give themoving magnet offering a flatfrequency response more in keepingwith a moving coil design.

The 2M doesn't feel quite as

substantial as the Ciearaudio orNagaoka, but the finish is more thanacceptable for the price and theexcellent packaging and suppliedtools (the Ortofon is the onlycartridge here to be supplied with a

stylus gauge) are also extremelygood. The body is threaded andextremely easy to fit and align(although the pin arrangement isdifferent to most cartridges on testhere) and the 2M Blue is not a

difficult cartridge to accommodate.

Sound qual¡tyThe Ortofon immediatelydemonstrates that it has a seriouslyimpressive output level that shouldallow all but the most feeble phonostages to deliver a healthy volume.

Even when equalised to the sameIevel as the rest of the group, theOrtofon is more than simply usefullyloud. The 2M Blue sits somewherebetween the slightly cool Clearaudioand more involving Nagaoka andoffers some of the benefits of both.

The performance is clear and openwith an impressive sense of drive andattack to it. The 2M Blue powersthrough Little Feat and marries agility

TËaæ perfrrË?EærEGe

Ës æEæar ænd GpemwãËgc æ!€ ÊãæpræssËwæ

*eæsæ æf drÊve

and speed with impressive tonalityAcross all the recordings, theperformance with voices in particularis among the very best in the groupand the Ortofon goes about arrangingeverything in a clear and easy tofollow soundstage.

The 2M Blue also manages to adjustits scale between small and intimateand vast easily and convincingly. Thehandling of surface noise iscommendably good, too and it is ableto handle a wide variety of materialwithout leaving you feeling shortchanged with any of it.

The limitations of the Ortofon arecommendably slight by comparison.When listened to in competition withthe Nagaoka, the Ortofon manages tokeep pace with the more expensivecartridge over an impressive range of

"åË'3lB353GROU EST

Few MMs have quite the beef of Ortofon's 2l\4

range and the Blue is no exception, offeringa mighty 5.6mV output (re. Scm/sec)and a

very fine 0.25d8 channel balance. Tracking is

on a par with the Nagaoka with d¡stortion as

low as 0,45% up to +15d8 at 300H2 beforethe cartridge'lets go'on the right channelthrough the top +18d8 groove. Complianceis very close to Ortofon's 20cu specificationat 23cu (lateral), matching the 2lvl Blue tomedium effective mass tonearms, even ifthe20 degree VTA proved to be closerto 26degrees in practice. Neither ¡s the frequencyresponse quite as extended as suggested(lr4lt4s rarely offer the HF extension of thebest MCs) although the +2-3dB presence

and mid-treble boost on lateral cuts willensure there's plenty of energy and punchcentre stage. Finally, and in line with all the2M series, stereo separation is >20d8 rightacross the audio rânge, PM

RESULTS ATA GTANCE

output level

Tracking ab¡l¡ty

Frequency response

D¡stortion

Generator symmetry

KFY: !GroupaverageC %belowaverage D%aboveaverage

material. 'vVhen the going gets verycomplex though, the 2M Blue can losesome of the fine detail that theNagaoka can dig out of the mix. Incomparison with the MP-150, therecan be a very slight lack of warmthand emotion - although this issomething a suitable phono stagemight sort out.

All things considered, as one of thecheaper cartridges in the test, there isa great deal to like about the Ortofon.This is a well built and - thanks to thesupplied tools - easy to installcartridge that offers a very capablesonic performance and the highregard this cartridge is held in seemsentirely justified o >

OUR VERDICTLIKE: Powerful andengaging sound; eâsyto install; excellentâccessofles

With its distinctive colouring the 2M Blue remainssuperb value for money and a strong performer

trDEÍAILSPROrtofon2M Blue

ORIGINDenmark

TY?EMovingmagnetcâruldge

U'EIGHf7.2s

RCIS.Outputvoltage5,5mv. Tracking we¡ght:tBg

' .Caûldgeweight:rzs.Stylustype nudeelliptical

' . Cantilever type¡aluminium

DISTRIBt'fORHenleyDesigns

IEIIPHONE0û¿35511166

WEBSfTEortofon.com/home

***** DtsltKE:Verystishtlack of engagementand lossoffine detail

SOUf'dE€UÁ¡"ITY

*****VÃLUE FTf? MEñåEV

BUILÐQUÁL¡TY

****FEAlUREç

*****æw€R&E-L

*****

WESAY: An incrediblYaccomplishedcartr¡dge that'sexcellent value

Ghoice

SEPTEIVIBER 2013 ilHlcholce 35

**

Elliptical diamondElliptical

rtI

-1I

GROU EST CARTRIDGES€t50-G235

ALL SD( OF these models havesomething to offer the listene4 butthey can be divided on the scope oftheir abilities. As such, the GradoPrestige Gold 1 is the most limited ofthe cartridges. It offers a refined anddetailed perforrnance, but lacks alittle excitement when the pace picksup. The Audio-Technica AT440MLa is

a more rounded performer and offersimpressive musicality with a varieryof material, but - like the Grado - is a

little difficult to fit.The Goldring 1012GX is rather

better and has a powerful andinvolving sound that makes the most

of exciting music. The slightly overenthusiastic performance withsmaller-scale material hinders itsstatus as an all-rounder and it isn'teasy to fit. As the most expensivecartridge, it suffers by comparison tosome of the less expensive models.The Clearaudio Concept V2 is a

stronger proposition. Despite beingcheaper than the Goldring, itproduces a fast, detailed and excitingsound that will win it many friends. Itis simple to fit and comes with someuseful tools. Only the slightly sterilesound and the need to ensure VIA iswell set robs it of a higher place.

The Onofon 2M Blue is less fazedin this regard and the shortercantilever means that it is less

affected. This is one of manyattributes that combine to create a

very capable cartridge indeed andone that is very competitivelypriced considering the level ofperformance that it offers. This is asuperb all-rounder that does justice

to a wide variety of musical stylesand seems forgiving of less thanperfectly recorded material. If youhave less than É200 to spend on acartridge, you would be hardpressed to find a better design.

GrouptestverdictHe's done his listening, checked his notes and got his thoughts into somesemblance of ordel so it s over to EdSelleylo reveal the final results

'lfMP"r50extra cost

a newdeck,

frlake/model Audio-TechnicaAT44OMLa

Price €195

Sound

Value

Build

Features

Overall ** *Likeable w¡th a goodperformance. butit's not quite thecomplete package

I

€150

Keenly priced withlikeable features,but resultsdependontheturntable

3.3mV

Alu mìnìu m

Goldring1012GX

1235

Capable andengaging, but lack ofsmallscale abilitycount against it

6.5mV

1.75s

A capable cartridgewith some music,but less happy withuptempo mater¡al

;cartridgewithai greatperformance

TURNTABLE:Rega RP6GSOO

The Rega proves an excellentpartnerwith these cartridges and is still

GradoPrestige Gold 1

NagaokatvlP-150

Ortofon2M Blue

Ê160 8229 ) E17O

**** ***** I *****

*J* * *** ***A superbly capableand well-sorted

An incrediblyaccomplishedcartr¡dgethat's

Kcy features

Output voltage 4.OmV

Tracking weight 1.75s

Cartr¡dge weight

Stylus type

Cantilever type Alloy

36 ll+lgúice SEPTETMBER 2013

INTEGRATED ATAPTJFIER:Audío Analogue Verd¡ Cento el,25oThe big ltalian integrated ¡sfittedw¡th a betterthan average phono stage as part ofthe featuresetand it will be abletodo¡usticetoanyofthecartridges here

SPEAKERS:Sonus faber Venere 1.5Ê950The latest offering fromSonus fabet will completean enalogue system verynicely lndeed with itspunchy and cleanperformance

one of the very finestturntables available atthe price with superball-round performance

Hard alloy i Fourpiece OTL

excellentvalue

4 smv 5.5mV

't.79 1.89

65s 7.2s

Elliptical

Aluminium alloy Aluminium

4 OmV

2os 1.759

IF