Recommend Cart Upgrade for Sony PS-HX500 TT

[tane0019]

Hi, As per titled, what will you guys recommend ? Understand the Cart height is 17mm, is it necessary to find a 17mm height cart ?

[Mikado463]

You stated upgrade, what are you currently using ? here are a few that I would think to pair well with the Sony

Audio - Technica AT95E , Shure M44-7 or M97XE

don't worry about cart height, adjust VTA once mounted

[tane0019]

Current stock cart from Sony think is AT91.

Was told that Sony Arm cannot adjust height. Therefore not possible to adjust VTA. Is this really that important ?

[Mikado463]

Current stock cart from Sony think is AT91.

Was told that Sony Arm cannot adjust height. Therefore not possible to adjust VTA. Is this really that important ?

Personally, unless there is something wrong with your existing cartridge I would continue to use it and save my $$ for a better analog set up 'if' in fact analog is something you think you will continue to pursue.

As for the VTA question on your Sony I'd say stay in the AT line (AT95E) for any difference would be minimal and probably not discernible.

[tane0019]

Not really that big time into analog, but would like to get a decent enough cart before I start ripping into DSD128.

What would be a equivalent AT cart for 2M Blue ?

[calbears]

Hi tane0019,

I recently purchased an hx500 and faced the same issue; I went to a hi-end audio shop run
by a nice german fellow who suggested the sumiko pearl cart which he installed and adjusted (I
made sure he understood the adjustments/lack of on the hx500 and he was able to align it well)

He said the final system sounded "very good"; but not quite as good as his mcintosh tt's w/ MC carts.

I have played a few records, although my main goal was digitizing/ripping some vinyl; the resulting
dsd files (128/256) sound great.

Good luck, calbears

[joeinid]

Welcome to the forum, thank you for joining.