I bought a Sumiko Starling in January ($2000), played it about 10 hours, found it totally harsh and grating, sold it for half-price. I replaced it with a wonderful Grado Ref 3 LO, and am so relieved and pleased.
Phono cartridge choice
Well, I think that I already have my mind made up but, I decided to see what the forum would say. The objective is to get a third cartridge to use in rotation on a Jelco SA-250S tonearm (removeable headshell) on a partially upgraded 1980s Linn LP12. The upgrades on the Linn are for increased rigidity (corian sub-chassis, corian arm board and a DIY 1/8" thick aluminum bottom plate. The two carts already on hand are a Hana SH MKII and a Nagaoka MP-200. The Hana will be on a Yamamoto Ebony Headshell. The MP-200 will be on a Jelco metal headshell. The third cart being considered is the Sumiko Songbird HO. It can go on either a Jelco or a Yamamoto ebony headshell (leaning toward the Yamamoto) The tuning of the system is much more for "musicality" than for analtical presentation. I want more ease and flow to the sound. Tube peamp, tube phono stage and tube amp.Thoughts? (sorry Audio Technica fans but, I wiil have to pass on AT carts)