Tranfiguration Orpheus description

I have the O in my system right now. I borrowed it from a friend. It does not yet have 100 hours on it, so I will withold judgment on its ultimate performance. So far, in my system, I rather like its sound. It has a good, well integrated and tight bottom end, a touch elevated in the midrange (relative to my Titan), and is a bit shut down at the very top (less "air" than the Titan). Then again, I really have not tried to optimize setup for this cartridge. To change loading in my phono stage, I have to take it apart and solder in different resistors. That is why I am sticking with 1k ohms right now. It is also set at very slightly low (tail down) for VTA. Actually, a friend lent me a custom phono stage that was built specifically for a Helikon and it sounds even better than my stage with the O.

I find it interesting how vigorous is the debate on the relative merits of the O vs. the Z, particularly when everyone's system is so different. When I switched to my friend's stage, the sound was completely different from that of my stage. I really can't see how any phono component can be evaluated other than as part of an evaluation of the complete system.

I've heard so many different, yet all enjoyable set ups to get into a "who's best" kind of argument.

I had an Orpheus in my system for about three weeks (loan from a friend), and I've heard it in two other systems I know very well. In all of these systems, this is a terrific cartridge. It sounds much more lively and engaging than the Temper W (a cartridge I do not really like because it sounds a touch lifeless).

As far as tonal balance, it sounds a bit more midrange prominent than my Titan, and perhaps has a bit less "air" or openness on top than the Titan, but, overall, they both are great sounding cartridges.