A great topic with some excellent posts already. There have been gigantic improvements in the performance of cartridges over the last decade (compared to very little improvement in CD laser pick-ups). Here are my top ten cartridges, no particular order, cost no object (today most cartridges--including many of the following ones--are cruelly overpriced): 1.) Transfiguration Temper Supreme (one of the most musical systems in the world, picks up the smallest details, but unfortunately requires very quiet phono stage) There is at least one clone of this cartridge: Crown Jewel, with a different outer body. 2.) Jan Allaerts, MC 2 Finish (outstanding dynamics, beautiful tone and temperament, probably the most intellectually and emotionally satisfying cartridge I have ever heard, harmonizes well with the Simon Yorke turntable; but, again, requires excellent phono stage because of low output and unusual load) 3.) Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum (warm, beautiful timbre) 4.) Benz Micro LO.4 (a great value considering it can be retipped for a fraction of the cost of the cartridge; unjustly underrated by most reviewers) 5.) Sao Win SMC-10 (full-bodied, plastic, makes even bad vinyl sound heavenly, the same manufacturer makes one of the best step-up devices) 6.) Van den Hul, The Colibri (unbelievably detailed, fast, accurate, with enornmously deep bass and lots of air) 7.) Lyra Parnassus D.C.t. (highly precise, with exact timing, helps intellect and emotion to engage with the music on the vinyl) 8.) Ortofon Status (clear, detailed, precise imaging--not a great value considering that the Ortofon SPU Royal comes close to the same perfomance at about a third of the price) 9.) Haruo Takeda Miyabi (ultradynamic, musical, but you need an excellent phono stage). 10.) ZYX/Namiki R-1000 (extremely neutral, with divine voice reproduction) I have never liked Clearaudio cartridges (too dry, too overpriced, do not reproduce all of the low-level details), although some may have good reasons for liking them (phono preamp less critical; round, earthy tone).
