MM or HO MC Cartridge Choice-Input Please

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My best bets for new cartridges in this area are

Jico Seto Hori 

and

Acoustical Systems Fideles

While Linn is a company that elicits strong emotions from people in this hobby, I think there is a lot of value in their analog hierarchy. Table is the cornerstone of the analog system, then tone arm, and finally cartridge. I would add a corollary and put the phono stage right after tone arm, and once everything else is right then commit fully to the cartridge.

It is my experience you get a higher level of reproduction using something like one of the new Audio Technica OC9 cartridges or perhaps the ART9 on a fundamentally superior table and phono stage over a $2000 or more cartridge on a less capable turntable and arm.

Since you are using the onboard Shindo MM phono stage then a SUT makes the most sense. Mike Sanders has been building quality gear for decades, I would expect his selection of transformers for his step up would be quality pieces. Start with what you own in that area, make a meaningful upgrade in turntable, and once that is complete then select the level of cartridge you can afford.

I had a Rega P5-the next step up from the P3.

Save yourself the hassle stay with the  Rega philosophy. That means simple. Get a Rega cartridge. 3 screws,set tracking force-done

If your MC curious, then look at the Ania. Exact for MM

While any of those carts will sound nice, it is hit or miss, since you will also need to shim for VTA(if that's what you want to do). 

Get a different table with adjustability if you want to really explore cartridges.

In my accumulated experience, MM outperforms HOMC. Also it’s a good idea to define HOMC. I would define that group as having an output >> 1.0mV at standard velocity. An AT ART9, for example, is not an HOMC type.

MM, imo. HO MCs do away with most advantages expected from MCs.

The Garrott Bros p77i seems like a good choice in the $500 range.

I have not tried the SoundSmith ones, but their carts intrigue me too.

An acquaintance/friend who I visit occasionally who has an extremely expensive system, approaching £200 000.

They also have direct communication with some of the leading Brand Owners and are well grounded in what there system sounds like, and could sound like, making changes to any section within it is not a concern for them financially. They are not a stranger to being invited to events where invitations are for a certain type only and are regularly at HiFi events as far a field as Hi End Munich

This person will not entertain the usual type of LOMC Cart's in their System, even with their disposable funds being quite unlimited. In the times I have been demonstrated the system in the guise the owner wants it to be heard, all  LP replays have been carried out with HOMC Cart's, which are the preferred choice of the systems owner.

The same person has in the past has allowed other to demonstrate their own Cart's when brought attached to a Head Shell of which some are LOMC, and the system owner has also demonstrated a DS Audio Optical Cart'. 

 The system owner has made it known that more recently the DS Audio Optical Cart' design is being used in two different models very often. With this knowledge I informed them of a Energizer that is being produced by a EE I know, and the Energizer was purchased to be imported almost immediately.

I am confident another demonstration will be had of the DS Audio Cart's in use and the different Energizers that are available.

The curiosity will be to try and receive a demonstration of HOMC to DS Optical, to assess the impression the DS Cart's are making in comparison to the HOMC Cart's that are now used less often, it would also be good if time allowed to use a LOMC in the same demonstrations. 

Once more a case of 'each to their own' the 'ears being the Judge' and 'one likes what they like' 

I would go to the Soundsmith website and immerse myself in Peter Ledermann’s knowledge and buy a moving iron cart. They offer alot for the money, especially the older models. Good luck! 

As time goes on, you begin to appreciate the KIS rule. So, stay with a good MM, forget the fiddling and enjoy the music. AT make brilliant good value bang for the buck cartridges.

I don't know who the mystery rich guy is in Pindac's post, but he is entitled to his opinion of HOMC cartridges.  I disagree.  One caveat: some manufacturer's make the same cartridge in very low output and slightly low output versions.  For example, Audio Technica make the ART series in forms that put out around 0.2V and around 0.5V.  I would not categorize the higher output version in that case to be an "HOMC".  I reserve the term for cartridges with output well above 1.0mV, enough to drive some MM stages. Those latter I have found to be deficient compared to LOMC, MM, or MI types.  Just yet another opinion.  My HOMC experience is limited to Sumiko, Benz, and Transfiguration.  I've not heard a Dynavector HOMC in my home.

HO MC is No Bueno.

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