Cartridge for VPI Traveler

Davkj

Davkj

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I've had a Traveler with an Ortofon 2M Bronze for the last few years and have never really been happy with the sound. To me it is thin, lacking body, and sometimes just plain shrill. My digital setup sounds nothing like this and is far superior. I've had the dealer check and recheck the setup, replaced the phono pre, and it still sounds like bad digital to me. I've seen some similar complaints online about the Bronze, so I think is is probably just the wrong cart for me. So I'm thinking that before I ditch the whole thing, maybe I should just try a different cart.

Any suggestions for a reasonably priced cartridge (<$2000) that:
1. isn't too much cart for the Traveler arm
2. has a sweet extended high end
3. smooth slightly warm midrange
4. doesn't accent surface noise
?

I'm also thinking of a new Prime w/ a Cadenza Bronze, but as much as I like overkill, it is just too much for my small vinyl collection.

Thanks.
 
I have that cartridge and it has plenty of body and warmth. Definitely not thin and shrill. I'm wondering if it could be A. a setup issue with your TT or B. your phonostage.

Thoughts?
 
Dave,

The Ortofon 2M Bronze has a stylus profile that is somewhat fussy about alignment. The type of sonic shortcomings you described would be consistent with the VTA of that cartridge being too high, so the first thing I would try would be to lower the tonearm height slightly in small increments. You may find a more suitable VTA that will eliminate or at least minimize the problems you are experiencing and which will allow better tracking of the grooves. If you get it too low you may find the bass to get too full or out of control. If that happens raise the VTA slightly from there and you may have found the cartridge's optimal VTA.

You didn't mention which phono stages you have tried, as they can also contribute to these type of problems. If you can't get the 2M Bronze to sound better in your Traveler, then your expectations may be too high for it and would require moving up to get the performance you desire. If you want to try another cartridge that would be warmer as you described, you might want to consider one of the wood body Grado cartridges. Good luck and let us know how it all works out. Getting an analog setup optimized can be a tricky thing, but the reward is worth the effort!
 
Mike said:
I have that cartridge and it has plenty of body and warmth. Definitely not thin and shrill. I'm wondering if it could be A. a setup issue with your TT or B. your phonostage.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I have the 2M not Cadenza Bronze - based on what I have read about the Cadenza it may have the sonic signature I'm after.
 
audio.bill said:
Dave,

The Ortofon 2M Bronze has a stylus profile that is somewhat fussy about alignment. The type of sonic shortcomings you described would be consistent with the VTA of that cartridge being too high, so the first thing I would try would be to lower the tonearm height slightly in small increments. You may find a more suitable VTA that will eliminate or at least minimize the problems you are experiencing and which will allow better tracking of the grooves. If you get it too low you may find the bass to get too full or out of control. If that happens raise the VTA slightly from there and you may have found the cartridge's optimal VTA.

You didn't mention which phono stages you have tried, as they can also contribute to these type of problems. If you can't get the 2M Bronze to sound better in your Traveler, then your expectations may be too high for it and would require moving up to get the performance you desire. If you want to try another cartridge that would be warmer as you described, you might want to consider one of the wood body Grado cartridges. Good luck and let us know how it all works out. Getting an analog setup optimized can be a tricky thing, but the reward is worth the effort!
Click to expand...


Thanks for your thoughts. I spent some time playing with the VTA this weekend and actually ended up raising it (significantly) from where the dealer had it set. It seemed to help, so I may need to spend more time tweaking. I am using a Parasound JC 3+, which is a significant step up from the B&K Pro 10 MC Sonata I was using originally. When I purchased the Parasound the dealer echoed your recommendation by suggesting a Grado Sonata, so that may be a good option for me.
 
There is a Soundsmith Zephyr VPI which I believe was designed for VPI turntables and is now, I understand, Harry W.'s favorite. Not sure whether it matches the Traveler, however.

Larry
 
Mike said:
I have that cartridge and it has plenty of body and warmth. Definitely not thin and shrill. I'm wondering if it could be A. a setup issue with your TT or B. your phonostage.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Or the cartridge loading???
 
Dave's 2M Bronze is a Moving Magnet design so it's generally accepted to use the standard 47kohm resistance loading, but possibly a lower setting could be worth a shot. He could also try adding some capacitive loading in an attempt to tame the thin/shrill sound he is experiencing.
 
The JC 3+ does not allow changes to loading for MM carts so it is set to 47K ohms. (It does allow changes for MC) Capacitance cannot be changed for either type. I am using a low capacitance interconnect.
 
My favorite cartridges are all mc's, although I did use a Grado Ref Sonata1 until switching to a used Zyx low output mc. The Grado was honest, but didn't have the tone color or extension in bass and treble that the Zyx has. The Zyx also seems less susceptible to noise on the records, maybe different stylus shape...

One of the best hi output mc I've heard is the Dynavector 20- lists for about $750. You can get Sumikos for less money, starting with the Blue Point Special, which I think gives at least a good hint of what mc's can do. If you're serious, and the JC3 sounds like you are, I would go with a low output mc. There are tons of great sounding low output mcs for a grand or less.
 
drewshifi said:
My favorite cartridges are all mc's, although I did use a Grado Ref Sonata1 until switching to a used Zyx low output mc. The Grado was honest, but didn't have the tone color or extension in bass and treble that the Zyx has. The Zyx also seems less susceptible to noise on the records, maybe different stylus shape...
Click to expand...

Thanks drews, what ZXY are you using? What turntable/arm is it mounted on?
 
Its an RS10 that was sitting in an audiobuddy's drawer for years, very little use- He got it in a trade and tried hooking it up to a high gain MM phono section, didn't work (no surprise) so he put it away. I think the main difference between mine and the current RS100 is the cantilever material.

Its mounted in a VPI Scout, going through a BeyerDynamics step up transformer into an Audible Illusions preamp- which I think is still one of the best.

Another fabulous cartridge (non-outrageous price) I've heard at length was a Shelter 301.
 
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