Accurate description of the DL-110 HO MC cart! Mounted on my Denon 52f TT, Lehman Black Cube Phono Stage, Yaqin MC100b tube amp, and Paradigm Mini Monitor V2/V3……finally a wide soundstage, high clarity silky smoothe cart that has made me sit for a few hours or more and not be fatigued. Great review!
The LP-12 is probably 'the' classic turntable and was an object of aspiration for Hi-Fi nuts in the late 70's, 80's and 90's. They are fiddly to set up and get working properly as it has a very over sensitive suspension system which is very high maintenance - the turntable only 'lights up' when the suspension is 'just right' - I had one for 15 years, loved it, but grew to resent the constant fiddling. An inherent issue with getting Hi-Fi performance from vinyl is having a good understanding of how it works, and how vital it is to get the geometry and alignment of the stylus in relation to the grove wall correct. This involves a lot of time consuming and delicate work, setting VTA, alignment protractors etc. My go to carts are... Basic/entry level: Audio Technica AT-95E - a good all-rounder great place for newbies to startMid level: Denon DL-110 - a very good high output moving coil with good tracking and an open soundMoving Up: I really like the Dynavector 10X (now at version 5) very good cart - doesn't like Rega decks though, tends to sound 'thin' - not sure why
I've had my AT440mlb for almost two weeks now. Paid about $150 (US). It sounds amazing, to put it mildly. I feel it should cost three times more than what I paid. As you mentioned, I'm listening to my records again for the first time because of all the new information it's digging out of the grooves. I'm addicted to vinyl now thanks to this beauty. I should probably buy more of them before the price goes up. Highly recommended...without any reservations. :)
I have the AT440MLA and the MLB is the newer supposedly better cartridge. I am of the same opinion, there isn't anything I've come across for even 3 times the cost that will outperform the 440Mla. Superior microline!
I completely agree with you, the AT440MLB is a fantastic cartridge which took time to reach its full sound quality potential but it has no equal at many times the price I paid for it. Next cartridge upgrade will have to be a hand made moving coil by a Japanese mystic living on mountain which costs an arm and a leg to buy, like a Kiseki or Koetsu.
Very interesting ... I have just bought an lp12 which came with an atoc9mc and fancy trying another cartridge found you video very helpful ........thanks
hello, you were talking about frequent cartridge changes. with a fixed headshell, that is a difficult task to repeat often. i suggest selling the rega arm or get an additional turntable with a jelco arm with detachable universal headshell capability. then it will be to your advantage to have numerous headshells (jelco's are excellent) with cartridges pre-mounted and aligned so that all that's necessary is to rest the vtf and antiskate. perhaps adjusting the VTA and with the help of a Fozgometer, adjust the azimuth. i once had a vpi hw19III with SME IV arm and Sumiko Talisman HO MB. i loved its sound but couldn't bring myself to undo the beautifully mounted cart, it had been done so artfully. i sold it and bought a SOTA Sapphire with an mmt tonearm (made by jelco) with detachable shells. i have been quite content ever since. i too would love to try a nagaoka but i have many cartridges mounted and unmounted. have fun with this hobby, and let us know when and if you make a change or addition. ...hifitommy
I'm running two turntables through my system right now, so it's not hard to do an A/B comparison. One is a Micro Seiki BL-51 which has a Grado Green cartridge; the other is a Pioneer PL-530 with a Denon DL-110. Just for the record, I'm really happy with both of them, but just recently I've noticed that the Grado seems to have an intermittent problem with losing one channel. I've been thinking of upgrading the Grado stylus to the next level up (which would be a Grado Gold3), and hoping this will not only give me a bit better sound but also fix this occasional problem. Anybody else had this experience?
I am considering either the mp11/mp110 or the 440mlb and I was wondering if the mp11 is almost as good as the 440mlb when it comes to outer groove distortion issues. I listen to classical music and the problems my community faces are quite different from jazz, rock, pop etc. OGD is a real big issue with solo piano recordings, large symphonic works and large choral works. You said you had about 5 records in your collection with that problem, I have about 200. Thank's
I have the AT440MLb and the microcline stylus is superb, I have absolutely no issues getting the cartridge to track the inner grooves. The Nagaoka was indeed very good but not as good at tracking compared to the AT440MLb in my opinion.
Even the Nagaoka MP-110 (currently $119 US) offers very good tracking (not quite Shure V15 level, but what is?) and well-balanced, coherent, non-fatiguing sound. The MP-150 ($254 US) and MP-200 ($413 US) offer sharper focus, greater separation, more extended bass and treble, and the ability to play more complex music without congestion. (I use the Abbado/Chicago Mahler 6 on DG LP's for this test.) The A-T 440MLB ($298 US) tracks as well as the top-line Shure but I can't enjoy its up-tilted, clinical balance. I much prefer the Nagaoka MP-150 and the Goldring 1006 in this price range ($250-300 US).
@@1mctous what would you recommend with the sound of the nagaoka but tracking of this At 440mlb. I'm using a rega p3. I have a lot of vocal music and quite a fee have IGD. I want good detailed sharp sound and tracking. Btw I have the elys2 which is great but clinical.
@@elvisrafiEven the MP-110 offers good performance, but you get easily audible improvements with the MP-150 and the MP-200. Listen to BarakaPDub's (Paul Weston's) Nagaoka MP-110 on an upgraded Rega 3 for yourself: ua-cam.com/video/tPhbHfenw7A/v-deo.html
Very interesting ... I have just bought an lp12 which came with an atoc9mc and fancy trying another cartridge found you video very helpful ........thanks
Accurate description of the DL-110 HO MC cart! Mounted on my Denon 52f TT, Lehman Black Cube Phono Stage, Yaqin MC100b tube amp, and Paradigm Mini Monitor V2/V3……finally a wide soundstage, high clarity silky smoothe cart that has made me sit for a few hours or more and not be fatigued. Great review!
The LP-12 is probably 'the' classic turntable and was an object of aspiration for Hi-Fi nuts in the late 70's, 80's and 90's. They are fiddly to set up and get working properly as it has a very over sensitive suspension system which is very high maintenance - the turntable only 'lights up' when the suspension is 'just right' - I had one for 15 years, loved it, but grew to resent the constant fiddling. An inherent issue with getting Hi-Fi performance from vinyl is having a good understanding of how it works, and how vital it is to get the geometry and alignment of the stylus in relation to the grove wall correct. This involves a lot of time consuming and delicate work, setting VTA, alignment protractors etc.
My go to carts are...
Basic/entry level: Audio Technica AT-95E - a good all-rounder great place for newbies to startMid level: Denon DL-110 - a very good high output moving coil with good tracking and an open soundMoving Up: I really like the Dynavector 10X (now at version 5) very good cart - doesn't like Rega decks though, tends to sound 'thin' - not sure why
I've had my AT440mlb for almost two weeks now. Paid about $150 (US). It sounds amazing, to put it mildly. I feel it should cost three times more than what I paid. As you mentioned, I'm listening to my records again for the first time because of all the new information it's digging out of the grooves. I'm addicted to vinyl now thanks to this beauty. I should probably buy more of them before the price goes up. Highly recommended...without any reservations. :)
I have the AT440MLA and the MLB is the newer supposedly better cartridge. I am of the same opinion, there isn't anything I've come across for even 3 times the cost that will outperform the 440Mla. Superior microline!
Dukerbud 88
Amazon! Now they've raised to $199. :(
I completely agree with you, the AT440MLB is a fantastic cartridge which took time to reach its full sound quality potential but it has no equal at many times the price I paid for it. Next cartridge upgrade will have to be a hand made moving coil by a Japanese mystic living on mountain which costs an arm and a leg to buy, like a Kiseki or Koetsu.
Very interesting ... I have just bought an lp12 which came with an atoc9mc and fancy trying another cartridge found you video very helpful ........thanks
Good work! There's no perfect setup, but you can have a lot of fun comparing the relative merits of every component.
Enjoyed your descriptions! About to receive the AT440Mlb and looking forward to some of those sonic "discoveries." thanks
hello, you were talking about frequent cartridge changes. with a fixed headshell, that is a difficult task to repeat often. i suggest selling the rega arm or get an additional turntable with a jelco arm with detachable universal headshell capability. then it will be to your advantage to have numerous headshells (jelco's are excellent) with cartridges pre-mounted and aligned so that all that's necessary is to rest the vtf and antiskate. perhaps adjusting the VTA and with the help of a Fozgometer, adjust the azimuth.
i once had a vpi hw19III with SME IV arm and Sumiko Talisman HO MB. i loved its sound but couldn't bring myself to undo the beautifully mounted cart, it had been done so artfully. i sold it and bought a SOTA Sapphire with an mmt tonearm (made by jelco) with detachable shells. i have been quite content ever since.
i too would love to try a nagaoka but i have many cartridges mounted and unmounted. have fun with this hobby, and let us know when and if you make a change or addition.
...hifitommy
that's a pretty nice system that you have. I think that you have made some really good decisions with that kit.
I'm running two turntables through my system right now, so it's not hard to do an A/B comparison. One is a Micro Seiki BL-51 which has a Grado Green cartridge; the other is a Pioneer PL-530 with a Denon DL-110. Just for the record, I'm really happy with both of them, but just recently I've noticed that the Grado seems to have an intermittent problem with losing one channel. I've been thinking of upgrading the Grado stylus to the next level up (which would be a Grado Gold3), and hoping this will not only give me a bit better sound but also fix this occasional problem. Anybody else had this experience?
It's known for the 3d effect
I am considering either the mp11/mp110 or the 440mlb and I was wondering if the mp11 is almost as good as the 440mlb when it comes to outer groove distortion issues. I listen to classical music and the problems my community faces are quite different from jazz, rock, pop etc. OGD is a real big issue with solo piano recordings, large symphonic works and large choral works. You said you had about 5 records in your collection with that problem, I have about 200. Thank's
I have the AT440MLb and the microcline stylus is superb, I have absolutely no issues getting the cartridge to track the inner grooves. The Nagaoka was indeed very good but not as good at tracking compared to the AT440MLb in my opinion.
The AT is a superior tracker but lacks the natural balance , it shifts the balance of the music upwards ( and many people like that )
Even the Nagaoka MP-110 (currently $119 US) offers very good tracking (not quite Shure V15 level, but what is?) and well-balanced, coherent, non-fatiguing sound. The MP-150 ($254 US) and MP-200 ($413 US) offer sharper focus, greater separation, more extended bass and treble, and the ability to play more complex music without congestion. (I use the Abbado/Chicago Mahler 6 on DG LP's for this test.) The A-T 440MLB ($298 US) tracks as well as the top-line Shure but I can't enjoy its up-tilted, clinical balance. I much prefer the Nagaoka MP-150 and the Goldring 1006 in this price range ($250-300 US).
@@1mctous what would you recommend with the sound of the nagaoka but tracking of this At 440mlb. I'm using a rega p3. I have a lot of vocal music and quite a fee have IGD. I want good detailed sharp sound and tracking. Btw I have the elys2 which is great but clinical.
@@elvisrafiEven the MP-110 offers good performance, but you get easily audible improvements with the MP-150 and the MP-200. Listen to BarakaPDub's (Paul Weston's) Nagaoka MP-110 on an upgraded Rega 3 for yourself: ua-cam.com/video/tPhbHfenw7A/v-deo.html
Thanks for your video!
Very interesting ... I have just bought an lp12 which came with an atoc9mc and fancy trying another cartridge found you video very helpful ........thanks