Have you heard a VAS cartridge?

Clarification, I prefer the VAS Nova Mono over any other mono options currently available.

I own two VAS Nova MC cartridges, one mono and one stereo.  The mono one in particular is magic, easily the best of several monophonic cartridges that I own.  A few days ago I reconfigured my phono pre set up for MM and had to switch from using the VAS to using an Ortofon 2M Mono SE, which is the mono version of the 2M Black.  All this because I bought a JICO stylus to try in my Shure V15 MRx5.   Anyway that is a story for another day, back to the VAS.  Wonderful cartridges. Wonderful service.   I personally prefer the VAS Nova Mono all things considered over any option currently available. 

I've been running the VAS Ebony 103 for quite some time. Never gets old, absolutely love the detail and warmth. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending it to anyone. Paid $510. Steve is very responsive to questions.

VAS also have their Nova MC cartridges, which seem to be a different thing altogether from the 103-based ones.

Thank you What! You always provide excellent information and opinions.  Loved the article.  I'm likely going to bite the bullet and order one from Steve. 

any prices on the  modded denon 103 ?   im also interested in the  denon 103 mono

I have NOT heard his cartridges, just ones with new cantilevers and tips.

I'm lucky, live only 35 minutes from him, I’ll listen to one he rebuilt completely on his system when I visit him soon.

I have heard two he re-tipped for my friend here in my system, and 2 he re-tipped for me in his system and my system

He has one done for me I need to pick up.

I trust what he says about his cartridges completely.

I have one. Steve sent it to me after I had purchased another cartridge- an old Monster- that he had retipped. I generally use high-line cartridges in my main system and this was intended for my vintage system. I wrote about it here:

Beyond that, Steve has been a joy to work with-- he's fast, relatively cheap and responsive. I know Peter L. and have used him, and have also done "factory" re-do's. 

I know somebody that bought a fairly expensive Koetsu stone that had a misaligned cantilever. Steve realigned things, don't remember if he installed a new stylus, but he is capable of doing refined work, not just chopping off the old cantilever and mounting a pre-fab cantilever stylus. There are a lot of people who do good work all over the world. Steve is among them.