Phono Cartridge Reviews

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Lyra Skala moving-coil phono cartridge

Michael Fremer Mar 18, 2007 First Published: Mar 19, 2007 0 comments

Back in 2000, when Lyra introduced the Helikon moving-coil cartridge, which replaced the then six-year-old Clavis D.C., the company inexplicably retained the Clavis D.C.'s retail price of $2000. This was inexplicable because the Helikon's revolutionary design was new from the ground up, and because audiophiles—like most, if not all, consumers—perceive price to be a reflection of quality and performance.

Phono Cartridge Reviews

Rega Apheta MC phono cartridge

Art Dudley Dec 24, 2006 First Published: Dec 24, 2006 0 comments

I see a pattern taking shape: Roy Gandy's Rega Research offered their first CD player in 1996, which was 13 years after the medium was introduced to the public. Now, in 2006, some 50 years after Joe Grado designed and sold the first moving-coil phono cartridges, Rega has released one of those. The year 2016 may see the first Rega fluoroscope, or perhaps wire recorder. And it'll be a good one, I'm sure.

Phono Cartridge Reviews

Brinkmann EMT Titanium phono cartridge

Art Dudley Aug 19, 2006 First Published: Aug 19, 2006 0 comments

There are a thousand different ways to make a loudspeaker. A hundred to make an amplifier. And at least a million to make a piece of wire. But here's the deal with a moving-coil phono cartridge: stylus, cantilever, rubber grommet, tensioning wire, coils, magnet, output pins, and maybe a body. Done.

Phono Cartridge Reviews

Linn Akiva MC phono cartridge

Art Dudley Oct 23, 2004 First Published: Oct 01, 2004 0 comments

The observation has been made, often and well, that audio writers are out of touch when it comes to judging value for money. For one thing, we get to live with exotic gear for months at a time, without spending a penny. For another, when we do decide on a more permanent upgrade, we usually get the opportunity to buy at wholesale—at a so-called "industry accommodation price," extended to us because, after all, we are a part of the industry.

Phono Cartridge Reviews

ZYX R-1000 Airy S phono cartridge

Art Dudley May 30, 2004 First Published: May 01, 2004 0 comments

My wife and I have this ongoing riff: We try to make each other laugh by sharing examples of words we've looked at too quickly and misread—mistaking offered for overfed, bagel for kegel, that sort of thing. All very subtle and dry and Garrison Keillor. You can hear the belly laughs from there, can't you?

Phono Cartridge Reviews

Dynavector DV10x5 MC phono cartridge

Art Dudley Oct 27, 2003 First Published: Oct 01, 2003 0 comments

The plumber's here, and he says we need a new hot-water heater because the one we have now isn't maintaining the correct water temperature, and because it's been in use for nine years. "And the thing is, this is a five-year heater." I responded by repeating his last six words, only louder, and with decorations. And I couldn't help thinking: I've had phono cartridges that lasted longer than that. And none of them have attacked me in the shower when my wife flushed the toilet, either.

Art Dudley Listening Phono Cartridge Reviews

Listening #1

Art Dudley Jan 19, 2003 First Published: Jan 19, 2003 0 comments

Even poor people fly. You see them getting on and off planes with their NASCAR hats and their poor friends and their poor relatives waving to them at the gate. Flying is what everybody does nowadays, but it used to be just for the rich. It's hard to remember a time when the phrase jet set was charged with something other than irony.

Phono Cartridge Reviews

Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood MM phono cartridge

Robert J. Reina Dec 22, 2002 First Published: Dec 22, 2002 0 comments

There is no better time than now to invest in audiophile-quality vinyl playback gear. I'll bet even Mikey Fremer would be surprised at the amount of new vinyl releases and reissues and used vinyl available to music-lovers today. And the choices available to audiophiles seeking turntables, tonearms, phono cartridges, and phono preamps is greater than it's been in a decade.

Phono Cartridge Reviews

Linn Arkiv B phono cartridge

Paul Messenger Jan 04, 2004 First Published: Mar 01, 2000 0 comments

Ten years ago, I'd probably have got pretty good odds from industry insiders on a bet that Stereophile would still be reviewing phono cartridges into the new millennium. Linn's Arkiv B may not be a brand-new design—I heard my first sample in mid-1997—but phono-cartridge technology is about as stable as anything in hi-fi today. This Stereophile review is long overdue.

Phono Cartridge Reviews

Audio-Technica AT-ML 150/OCC phono cartridge

Michael Fremer Jun 03, 2020 First Published: Jul 01, 1999 0 comments

How can two meticulously built, high-technology, high-performance, premium-quality moving-magnet cartridges that measure so well (according to their manufacturer-supplied specs) sound so different?