28-Oct-2018, 20:43
I have the MP-500 and it punches way above its weight. It's an MI rather than MM so is sonically sort of a hybrid / half-way point in subjective terms between MM and MC.
One note of caution is that the fine line stylus requires careful azimuth and alignment.
I'd put it in the same league as the mid-tier MCs I own.
I haven't heard the Audio Technica Shibata or line contact carts, but I do own an AT-33 Mono (true mono, sperhical) and AT-33EV (high end elliptical) MCs, both of which are good at things the MP-500 isn't.
One note of caution is that the fine line stylus requires careful azimuth and alignment.
I'd put it in the same league as the mid-tier MCs I own.
I haven't heard the Audio Technica Shibata or line contact carts, but I do own an AT-33 Mono (true mono, sperhical) and AT-33EV (high end elliptical) MCs, both of which are good at things the MP-500 isn't.