2. analog
  3. 166746-87559

New turntable: please help with cartridge selection: Ortofon vs Lyra vs Charisma vs Hana

So I took the plunge on a new turntable rig for my main system.  First new table in 30 years!

Incoming: TW Acustic Raven LS table and a Reed 3P 10.5" tonearm in cocobolo.

Undecided on a cartridge.  Looking for sound with natural tonality yet detailed and dimensional, nothing overly etched.  Have a Benz Ruby Z on my older SOTA set up and have enjoyed that very much.  Looking for something similar, yet even more frequency extension, if that's possible.

Contenders: Ortofon Winfeld Ti, Charisma Signature One, Hana Unami Red, Lyra Kleos.  Prefer to stay under $5K on the cartridge.

Rest of system:  ARC Ref 2 SE phono, ARC Ref 2 Mk II line stage, Pass XA 60.8 mono amps, Magico A5 speakers.

Anyone with experience with the above options?  Any thoughts with respect to system synergy?  I'm open to other options for cartridges, though for now that's the short list.

Thanks in advance!
bobbydd

Showing 1 response by pindac

pindac's avatar
pindac
2,864 posts
 
I am a person who prefers Ortofon, using one on my system.
I have heard the Higher up the Range offerings in Various Models and Designs at demonstrations on other systems and they always satisfy my preferences.

A local HiFi Dealer and Member of my HiFi Group, supplies Reed Tonearms and the Cartridge that the Dealer mostly rates is from Miyajima.

I have made this known before, It is not ideal, but there is enough on offer to gather a idea of how a Cartridge can differ from another model.
Visit the VAS NY Inc Videos of the Needle Drops of Cartridges he has had access to.  
More to discover