In part-2 of the cartridge shootout, I am testing each cartridge for tracking and bass reproduction. For this test, I am using a classic rap song called Hypnotize by Notorious B.I.G. .This song was one of the greatest selling hip-hop/rap tracks of all time that went platinum. The artist was one of only a very few who were at the top of a special genre of rap called gangsta-rap. This particular record is a 45 rpm record pressed on 12″ vinyl. Therefore the record is almost like an old maxi-single where the grooves are recorded at a much louder amplification than most average LP’s.
*If you notice the tune was sampled from Herb Albert – Rise.

The cartridges I am testing are:
1. Shure M91-ED with original (0.2×0.7)mil special elliptical tip. (0:27)
2. Shure M44-7 with Pfanstiehl stylus (0.6)mil conical tip. (1:51)
3. Audio Technica AT-100E with original (0.3×0.7)mil bonded elliptical tip. (3:16)
4. Shure ME97HE with original N97HE stylus, hyper elliptical tip. (4:44)
5. Audio Technica AT-11E with original (0.4×0.7)mil elliptical tip. (6:10)
6. Audio Technica PB-11E using stylus from the AT-11E. (7:35)
7. Audio Technica VS220E using stylus from the AT-11E. (9:01)

I am using minimal tracking force that is recommended for each of the cartridge/stylus combos. All of the cartridges were able to hold within the grooves without skipping, but in my opinion none were able to reproduce the song as clearly as it sounds on digital format. All cartridges sounded a bit distorted on the vocals. The bass sounded really good and comes close to the digital format of the song.

Hope you enjoy this video. Please like and tell me what you think about how the cartridges handled this song.