My present go-to recommendation for cartridge questions, is to call Soundsmith with your system info and budget, and listen very carefully. You will get a quality US made product with a reasonable stylusI will ask Soundsmoth, but would prefer something Japanese.replacement cost and spectacular imaging.
MC Cartridge Ideas
I'am looking to get a low output cartridge and need your advise and recommendations on which ones to research.
The Price Range is $2000-$4000.
The Sound I'am after is excellent detail retrieval (match digital) with pin point and spatial imaging and most important of all Huge Bass (sub bass slam and low extension)
I know its a hard question as most will recommend one or the other as audiophile we don't necessary keep swapping cartridges, but may be you are an audio dealer - Ideally you would be selling 20-50 cartridges and a few in my price range. Based on my Sound Characteristics you might be able to say Cartridge A is $2500 and surpassed Cartridge B at $4500 in the area of detail retrieval but not with Sound stage.
That's sort of what I'am hoping to achieve from this exercise, some in depth advise.
As with everyone I would like to keep the spend low but really go to the upper extreme its definitely worth it compared to the offerings at the opposite end.
The Price Range is $2000-$4000.
The Sound I'am after is excellent detail retrieval (match digital) with pin point and spatial imaging and most important of all Huge Bass (sub bass slam and low extension)
I know its a hard question as most will recommend one or the other as audiophile we don't necessary keep swapping cartridges, but may be you are an audio dealer - Ideally you would be selling 20-50 cartridges and a few in my price range. Based on my Sound Characteristics you might be able to say Cartridge A is $2500 and surpassed Cartridge B at $4500 in the area of detail retrieval but not with Sound stage.
That's sort of what I'am hoping to achieve from this exercise, some in depth advise.
As with everyone I would like to keep the spend low but really go to the upper extreme its definitely worth it compared to the offerings at the opposite end.
Showing 8 responses by kunalraiker
For high resolution modern soundThe Phonostage is Parasound JC3 and The Tonearm is Opera Consonance T1288 http://www.opera-consonance.com/products/tonearm/T988_T1288.htm |
I recently acquired a Lyra Kleos and it checks all your boxes. I'm blown away by it. American designed...Japanese built. Squarely within your budget.What did you upgrade from? Also what other cartridges were you researching at the time. Ok have been offered the Kleos SL for a good price from a dealer but haven’t decided. Also being offered the Dynavector Kiatora. |
Looking at your Opera Tonearm i think youcan use a wide range of cartridges, but please make sure about effective mass of the tonearm, as i can see you can even swap the arm tube (longer is for lower compliance cartridges). There is a Dynavector KARAT on the image from tonearm manufacturer, this model with very short diamond cantilever must be excellent! I have DV KARAT-17D2 mkII , even previous model was great, i also tried 23RS Ruby and was very impressed. They are not very expensive. Maybe you can ask tonearm manufacturer why he decided to use Dynavector for advertising his tonearm online. I actually bought the turntable with the 17D3 Karat, but the cantilever broke a few years back. It was an awesome combo and then I got the xx2 which improved on the bass. Time to get a new cartridge. |
As previously mentioned phasemation might be a good idea, however *if* your arm can really swing a 20g low compliance cart pm me ;)I only use Audiophile pressings, I cannot use a 20 gram cartridge, the highest I can use is 15 grams. |