My Sonic Lab Platinum v Gold Signature

@wrm57 If neutrality is a trait that is to seriously considered the Options are to be from a broader Palette. Certain Ortofon Cart's are more than able to perceived as having this trait.

I have been demonstrated Ortofon's and a Sumiko Pearwood in consecutive demo's. The Pearwood has been capable of making a very good impression on quite a few occasions. This Cart' presents in a way I would claim is leaning toward neutral, it is certainly not one with a Rich Tone, even though a Wood Body will suggest a Rich Tone is to be encountered. 

@pindac , yes, I agree about Ortofons. I have a long history with the A90, which I bought upon its release and played so much that Ortofon has rebuilt it for me twice already. It might be on the cold and detailed side of neutral, at least more so than what I’m seeking in my next purchase. The titanium-bodied Verismo is reputedly closer to neutral and would be sorely tempting, as well as a relative bargain (if one can say that with a straight face about a $7K cartridge), except that its electrical characteristics might make it a sub-optimal mate for my phono stage, which is entirely based on SUTs. At 7 ohms DCR with a .2 mV output, it would seem to work with the Allnic’s 26X SUT but the load impedance seen by the cartridge, 70 ohms, is likely to be a bit low. I say this with some confidence because I have an Ortofon SPU Royal GM II with similar electrics at 6 ohms, .2 mV, along with the same Replicant stylus, and I have to run that one through a different phono stage, one that won’t be available for this new purchase, to get it just right. At 26X through the Allnic, I find the top end on the Royal to be closed in, and I suspect the Verismo would be similar. Ortofon seems to like this combination of electrical traits now; the Windfeld Ti is 7ohm/0.2mV, too. The A90 at 4 ohms/0.27mV is ideal into the 20X option, which is one reason I’ve stayed with it for so long. I’m splitting hairs here, of course; but, hey, isn’t that what this hobby is all about? :-)

I appreciate the recommendation of the Sumiko, and looked it up. Unfortunately, I think its combo of 0.5 mV output at 30 ohm DCR could make my Allnic pretty unhappy. I’d have to try it to see.

@wrm57

Did you end up with the MSL Signature Gold?

No, I went for a Lyra Etna Lambda instead. The uncertain length of warranty from MSL (and its importer, MoFi: see the long mijostyn thread), put me off. And I had not used a Lyra since the entry-level Lydian Beta in 2000, so I wanted to see what this top manufacturer is up to these days. After conferring via email with Jonathan Carr, who is remarkably kind and forthcoming, I went with the regular, non-SL version. It’s a fantastic cartridge, easily the most precise and dynamic I had heard to that point, with exceptional speed and detail without sacrificing coherence, body, and musical satisfaction.

Very happy, I had no intention of buying another high-end cartridge. Then my dealer called a month ago with an offer I could not refuse. Ortofon had an MC Diamond they’d used at Axpona for less than 20 hours, perfect condition, available with full warranty for nearly half off MSRP. I jumped on it. It is still breaking in but wow, what a cartridge. I haven’t decided whether it’s better than the Lyra but it is every bit the equal and perhaps even more coherent and tonally rich. But until I can mount them on the same arm and do a direct comparison, I can’t make any valid comparisons. I feel very lucky to have them both.