Best of the Gliders, or?

In addition to what was previously written, so others can perhaps give a better recommendation-suggestion for a Cartridge, is that my original HO Glider is being used on an upgraded VPI HW-19 Jr, with MK-IV Platter, AQ PT-7 Arm (AQ Emerald Cable) Expressimo Counterweight, VPI SDS.

I might be able to spring the additional funds for the L2, M2, or H2 model on trade-in (I believe this would be about $800 plus my Glider) Thanks, Mark

I truly do thank you folks for the comments so far, and you have all "reconfirmed" my thoughts, that low output would be the way to go with Benz.

Being here for a couple of years now, I've read literal 1000's of posts, and I thank the A-Gon folks very much for providing an archives, in which one can search a specific topic-subject-product.

Of course I was a neophyte when starting into the "MC" world when I purchased the Glider, relying on reviews, and what others had said.

My impressions are that the HO Glider, being known as a "Moving Iron" Cartridge is perhaps not what many consider to be a true in the sense MC Cartridge.

This Cartridge has been a fun (And enjoyable) ride the last 10 years, and I would naturally like to continue this enjoyment. Every time a tweak was employed to the Turntable, or new Phono Stage, or acquisition of SDS, etc, the old Glider got better, and better.

I imagine in this price range, so much more has come along in the last 10 years. There is many directions I could go should I choose.

Should I decide again to go with a Benz product, are there any recommendations who I should do business with? I was thinking the Needle Doctor? Any better choices?

Most likely at this point I am seriously considering the Wood Body L2, a step up from the Glider.

I would think my Sutherland PhD should be able to provide a good Phono Stage for whatever my funds can cough up for a cartridge.

I reckon I can always charge, and make a few payments (99 payments, and she'll be mine! lol) Of course a Lyra Titan is out of the question! hee hee Mark

Hello Doug, To start out, I'd like to say thank you for responding, and also to thank you for your countless posts, and contributions to this group, which many I have read.

I've read numerous archived posts regarding many of the top highly regarded brands, such as Benz, Koetsu, Lyra, Dynavector, ZYX, etc.

I guess what I seek is not too different from what others do, when they wish to climb the Analog Ladder.

I'd like better retrieval from the LP's Grooves, and hopefully with it, a quieter, darker background. Things like better, more authorative bass, midrange magic, smooth, but extremely detailed highs, and a more holographic Soundstage-presentation.

While I have mentioned two earlier candidates in the Benz line (New Glider or the Wood Body right above it), I'm certainly not overlooking brands-models such as the Lyra Argo, and the Helikon.

I've read much good with the Argo-Helikon, and I'm sure either would be an impressive step up from my 1st version HO Glider.

The ML Stylus the Lyra possesses sounds like the way to go for these attributes-qualities I seek. My Sutherland PhD should be up to the task, and able to make good use of the increase in quality with one of these Lyras, as one of my good personal friends Thomas M. Back uses uses the Lyra Titan, and Clearaudio Master Reference with his Sutherland PhD.

The only one possible downside I see going to the Lyra (hopefully the Helikon) would be that I don't believe any Lyra Dealer takes Benz Cartridges in trade, so that would most likely mean selling my Glider perhaps here on Agon for a reasonable price, to help offset the cost of the new Cartridge.

I have no precise knowledge of hour's of use on my Glider, I'd probably have to "guess" 300-450 hour's of use, so it's probably not worn out just yet. Mark

I'm certainly not in disagreement with your assessments of the AQ Arm JCarr/PiedPiper.

While a very good "what I call entry level audiophile Arm", there's not much path for improvement for upgrades/tweaks with this Arm.

Why have I never heard/read about a Cardas-Incognito rewire to this arm? Is it because they stuffed the arm-wand like a freaking cannoli, and nobody can inside this arm to do the required Mods? This is the impression I get.

I'm limited to Arms, as I'm still using the 19-Jr MDF one piece Plinth. Linn, and a couple of others I understand will work for a quick, painless swap out. Trying to find a new Acrylic/Stainless Plinth, and Separate Armboard to be drilled for Arm of choice will not be an easy task I'm afraid. VPI has appeared to cease all support with this model.

I do understand that there are other very important qualities to an Arm besides just wiring. There's certainly no comparison of an AQ PT Arm, to a TOTL Graham, or SME.

Yes, in a ridiculous, insane sense, one could mount a $4500 Lyra Titan to a $44 Plastic Garrard Table, but as we all know, the Lyra would suffer a very horrible existence on such a Table.

I'd actually like keeping my 19 Turntable. It's got soul, and personality, even though it's meager to much that's out there now. How I wish years ago, I would've at least sprung for the VPI Aries, which was within my budget then, but I flinched. Is it too late? lol Mark

I do understand folks that a better Tonearm than the AQ PT-7/8 would no doubt imporve performance. Since I'm already drilled for the AQ, that still does leave a few options.

Basically, the AQ Arm is not a bad one. I've probably read literal 100's of posts about this Arm, an as I've menetioned before, am running an original AQ Emerald Cable, which I believe was Silver Plated Copper, cost me $250 new, back in '97, and I've also recently added the Expressimo Counterweight from Elusive Disc.

Downsides to this arm besides the obvious Bearings, which are no doubt better in more expensive Arms, are the seeming lack of an internal wire Upgrade, and also lack of Azimuth Adjustment, but from what I can see, my Arm's Azimuth is essentially nuts on. (No I haven't done an testing with Meter, etc)

There are two improvement paths I see, that would no doubt help, and that is one, a SAMA, and two, a better Cable. Of course, jumping from the Glider, to the Lyra Helikon should be a substantial improvement, and these other tweaks I mention above should help the Helikon perform better.

Isolation of Motor Vibration should help any Cartridge, as well as my ole Glider. Mark