"I really can't see how any phono component can be evaluated other than as part of an evaluation of the complete system."
This is a very critical point often overlooked and I wholly-heartedly agree with Larry on this.
I too did listen to a host of top flight carts - Urushi, Allearts MC1B, Dynavector Te Kaitora and XX2, and at the end of the day, the conclusion was similar to Positive Feedback's Roger Gordon, who concluded saying "Each of the three cartridges gives a slightly different view of the music, but all three views are equally valid and equally beautiful. I could easily live with any of them."
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue22/cartridges.htm
This is a very critical point often overlooked and I wholly-heartedly agree with Larry on this.
I too did listen to a host of top flight carts - Urushi, Allearts MC1B, Dynavector Te Kaitora and XX2, and at the end of the day, the conclusion was similar to Positive Feedback's Roger Gordon, who concluded saying "Each of the three cartridges gives a slightly different view of the music, but all three views are equally valid and equally beautiful. I could easily live with any of them."
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue22/cartridges.htm