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High end cartridge

I post similar question in other forum, but didn’t get help I need.


I want buy high end cartridge to replace my old one, I have very little experience with cartridges, only entry level of Ortofon, Denon, and Shelter, the last two brands I didn’t like them. So I like ask folks here who have great experience with cartridges, and with VPI FB Gimbal tonearm.

 

I’m concern very much about SQ differentials, I like full body sound, live, punch, authority, and neutral. My first choice will be Ortofon Cadenza black, but before go for it, I want check other brands for better alternative.

 

I see many people go for Lyra or Dynavector, I’m aware they are high end, but I have doubt the sound charastric of these cartridges not close to what I want, but more similar to Denon, and Shelter.

 

I wonder if my assumptions are correct?

 

And about Soundsmith, Benz, Van Den Hul, how good are these? And compare to Ortofon?

 

And will be other brands worth to check?

 

Thanks to all.

knight7m

Showing 2 responses by pindac

pindac's avatar
pindac
2,502 posts
 

Disclaimer: I am Wed to Ortofon Cartridges and have very little concerns about the MC's produced by the Company from the early 2000's and onwards.

The Flagship Models and the Trickle Down ranges with Flagship Technologies have satisfied my needs.

I can't see your money being wasted on the Cadenza Black.

Look after it very very well and when the Needle Replacement time arrives, seek out needlestein for a Gyger FG 'S' retip and I am sure the extended use of the Cart' with this New Part, will leave you feeling very very happy. You are welcome to search the Web, for reports from others that have selected this as a method on Ortofon Cart's, I am yet to see the method reported on as a wrong choice. 

This FG 'S' has the Styli Form that the Ortofon Replicant Stylus mimics, so it is a back door into a Cart' Ortofon did not want their Customers to get access to.

Maybe the C'b sharing the Aucurum Coil Wire and the Replicant,  was a bit too close to the heels of the Flagship Windfeld and would be a cheaper route into the race to experience the Ortofon Top Tier of Cart's, and the C'b acquiring this positioning was not so welcome. Speculation as it is, the C'b has tremendous potential and should prove to be very satisfying.

Bear in mind the Aucurum Coil Wire and Relicant 100 Stylus is also found on the latest Flagship Cart' being the Verismo.   

If all goes tickety boo with the Cart', you could be getting 2000+ Hours of LP replays for about a $1 per hour, Bargain, Bargain, Bargain.

The Verismo will set you back approx' $7 Dollars per hour on a 1000 Hour Usage. 

pindac's avatar
pindac
2,502 posts
 

@slimpikins5 

Good to see you are wed to the Ortofon Sound, I share in this same attraction.

I have a few MM's in storage and do intend on bringing them out for a play time, as I have not heard them with my latest Phonostage.

The MM Cart' AT 20ss you refer to is one I will investigate and learn more about it.

The Replicant 100, Paratrace and Fritz Gyger FG 'S' are all sharing the same form as a Styli, the 100 is seemingly being separated from these other forms not only by name but also by suggesting the 100 has undergone a ulterior polishing treatment.

The Dimensions for the Three Styli are the same and the only variances are the name used for the Styli, the dimension tolerances found in the patent for the form of the Styli, might only be the other difference, maybe?, one Brand offers a very tight tolerance for the dimension used across the supplied styli, but this is not known to me or have I seen this discussed as a potential possibility or as a  fact.

'needlestein' is a Cart' rebuild Service in the USA, who makes their work available to seen, the evidence and customer feedback will show the service offered is quite capable to take on the work if a FG 'S' is on the wish list to be used.    

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