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opinions on favorite cartridge

I have a number of cartridges to use, so much so that choosing between them has become somewhat difficult. I know, I know, many would wish they had that problem. But when you have a number of very decent cartridges, the differences are very minor. This is what I have,

Monster Alpha 2
Monster Genesis 1000 with Soundsmith ruby cantilever
Madrigal Carnegie One with Soundsmith ruby cantilever
GAS Sleeping Beauty
Benz Micro Glider II
Accuphase AC-1 with soundsmith ruby cantilever
Sumiko Talisman S with Soundsmith ruby cantilever
Dynavector 23rs
Dynavector 17d2
Dynavector 23r
Ortofon 2M Black
Clearaudio Aurum Beta Wood
Coral 777 EX
Sumiko Evo III

For any of you that have heard these cartridges, do you have a favorite and why. Each of these has an area that they excel at, and I currently am using the Monster Genesis and Benz Micro Glider II on my two main tables. Both are being used with SME 309 or 345 arms into either a PS Audio GCPH or SimAudio LP5.3 on an Oracle Delphi Mk IV or Transrotor Fat Boy

Any thoughts
manitunc
mkiser's avatar
mkiser
39 posts
 
Second the Lyra Delos
manitunc OP
795 posts
 
I guess I am not asking the question so that someone else can make the decision for me as to what to keep and listen too. I am asking the question just for general knowledge sake, and perhaps to help other members who might be considering any of the cartridges mentioned.

I have Marakanetz telling me the GCPH is good enough for any cartidge available, and Goatwuss telling me there is a large gap between the GCPH and a decent sounding phono preamp.

I will probably buy one or two higher end cartridges next, possibly a Cadenza Black or Dyna Rua II or Lyra Delos. I do agree that if you just want to buy and forget, you are better off getting the best you can afford up front. There is no cost saving to making small upgrades along the way. It may be fun, but not economically efficient.

Goatwuss, what phono preamp would you recommend. The Aesthetix has piqued my interest, with its remote, balanced inputs and external loading options.
ferdj
1 posts
 
You're bound to receive a very wide range of responses
in analog in particular synergy is everything, so what dazzles one of us may well be a pure anxiety listening experience for you with your system in your listening room.

I like to dig around in the Vinyl Asylum Archive to get a range of opinions and from looking at the individuals systems and knowing their relative experience and at times listening tastes I can get a good generalized assessment of a cartridges relative virtues and vices.
But the just going with what the majority likes you might as well
get out the dart board.
goatwuss
877 posts
 
Manitunic, The PS Audio is a good contender at its $1000 price, and has quite a bit of flexibility with its options, but there are much better sounding phono stages out there.

I owned the GCPH and borrowed a ASR Mini Basis Exclusive to compare with, and it was night and day - a significantly bigger difference than when I compared a couple $300 -$500 carts to some $1500 - $2000 carts. So at the ~$2900 I would recommend looking into that.

I'm sure the full ASR Basis stage is better, but much more expensive.

Another stage that I haven't personally heard but people seem to like is the Ayre.

I'm sure Aesthetix is quite good too - I haven't heard them though.

Maybe bring a couple home to compare?
manitunc OP
795 posts
 

Goatwuss,

The problem is that I have no opportunity to hear these products either in my system or anywhere else unless I just buy them and then try to sell if I dont like it. At $3000 a pop or more, that's not something I am likely to do unless I am convinced of a products superiority or bang for the buck.

Have you heard any of the modifications to the GCPH and how would you compare it to the Simaudio LP5.3?

Where do you think the price line is for diminshing returns for a cartridge. Is a $3000 cartridge appreciably better than a $1500 one?
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