Time for a new cartridge


My current cartridge which is a Van Den Hul DDTII Special MC is starting to lose it's zing. Details are not as sharp as they were and overall I think I'd like something fresh. My tt is a VPI Prime with the 10" JMW Memorial tonearm. My phono stage is a Musical Fidelity Nu Vista Vinyl. My amp is a McIntosh MA8950 integrated. My speakers are Sonus Faber Cremona M. I have 2 KEF R400B subs, which I think compliment the Cremona's. I've emailed VDH and they said they would do a re tip and get it back to where it was, but I'm thinking maybe it's time for a different sound. With the info I've provided I'd like some alternatives. My budget is around $2500.

128x128chasda

Dear @rauliruegas ,

Thanks for your detailed, albeit somewhat technical, comment.

Yes, I saw the frequency response of the MEMS cartridge on the website, and also as an attachment of a personal eMail from Sawada-san. That mail came as response to my question about the ubiquitous RIAA equalization before the master pressing. As you reasoned correctly, Sawada-san pointed out the amplitude transduction vs. the usual velocity/voltage mechanism, which will still produce accurate bass no matter what RIAA equilibration had been used after the recording. But you also argued correctly that there is indeed increasing instability below 20 Hz (as the frequency response clearly shows). As I pointed out above in my response to @mswale, in my case this manifested itself in strong rumble-pumping of my subs. Yet, after installing the phenomenal KAB rumble filter before my preamp, my bass is now super accurate, and dry, even with the organ-fff of Bach's Toccata from the incredible new soundtrack of Walt Disney's "Fantasia" (which makes my whole room and my chest vibrate with the MEMS in place, btw.). So, yes, you are correct that there might be some correction needed, depending on your other components. Interestingly, though: at Sawada-san's home there was no rumble filter: he had his Esoteric TT standing on a solid block of concrete and used high-sensitivity ancient horn speakers ("Voice of the Theatre") plus a Corona plasma tweeter both fed from an Accuphase integrated. To my ears, though, his system sounded "vintage" in the mid-range, if you know what I mean. I much more prefer what I have here at my house (the Corona, however, was amazing!!!)..

 

For what it’s worth I use a soundsmith paua and also have the musical fidelity nu vista vinyl pre and they sing.

I have tried almost every good cartridge in $5000 price and I prefer the EMT HSD 006. For just about $2000, it is an insane value and kicks ass of many top dollar carts. Huge dynamic range, flat neutral sound with just the right amount of warmth we expect analog to carry. Resolution is world class. Personally I used the EMT JSD Black which costs $3500. But even the HSD 006 gets 90% of JSD. I wont worry if I had the HSD instead of JSD. I am not sure why this cart doesn’t come up in discussions here

I have a Benz H2.0 that I will be putting up for sale.
It’s been refurbished and retipped by VDH and has had little to no use since. 
 

I'm also thinking of selling a Koetsu rosewood signature. 
 

Contact me directly if you think these might work for you. 

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