Upgrade from Sumiko Blue Point #2

Yes, The styli and cantilevers are specified by the manufacturers and made by several companies many of them Japanese and perhaps Clearaudio cartridges are made in Japan just like all Lyra cartridges and we all know they suck:) Who cares. My comment was aimed at certain Japanese brands that in my opinion are made for profit and are not as good a value  in the $1000 price range as the Ortofon. I'll leave it to everyone to figure out who those brands are. I obviously have something against Japanese made cartridges because I own a Koetsu and a Lyra and love them both. I wish I had gotten a Transfiguration before the death of the designer/owner:(

Ok thanks for the feedback and information. I think I will be on the hunt for some some ortofon bronze and blacks. Also considering dynavetor 10x5 or 20x2. I hear they also are pretty good with soundstage detail and just a hint of sweetness. Don’t get too wrapped up in the Japan debate. Will be back to report on my purchase when it occurs. Thanks everyone.

So I found a deal on a Dynavector 20x2H like new never installed still in box under $700 so waiting for the seller to ship. Hopefully a nice upgrade. Will keep posted.

Yes the Dyna will be a very nice upgrade for you over the Bluepoint , enjoy that new cartridge and let us know once installed and broken in. Enjoy the music.

So the Dynavector has been in the system for a few weeks and approaching the 30 hour plus mark give or take. I will begin by saying my initial impressions with my initial loading were not good. I had my phono stage setup 40db gain ,47k imp and no capacitance added (basically the settings I has for my high output Sumiko blue no2. The sound had more defined and focused high frequencies but that's were the benefits ended. The stage sounded flat the presence sounded squeezed and "choked" was the word that kept on coming to mind. I decided to change the impedance to 1000ohms and kick the output to 50db of gain. That was a game changer. Now the sense of presence and dynamics actually became assets. The soundstage had much needed added depth and everything came together, Everything also had a bit more transparency (such an over used term but while I'm shooting every other audiophile term in the book out there what the hell). Basically the proverbial windex on the glass everything sound cleaner thing going on here. Now at the same time albums that had excess  sibilant highs are no longer an issue for the most part  when compared to the Sumiko.I do fell the Sumiko is probably no slouch in it's price range and even had some qualities I feel better the Dyna particularly a slightly wider stage and a bit more unleashed in the upper mids and highs.This sometimes comes across enjoyable,exiting and dynamic and other times can be a hindrance causing slight fatigue , The Dyna has better punch and deeper bass also gives less congestion with better distinction of the instruments on passages with complex amounts of tracks in the recording. Sometimes I feel the Sumiko has a nicer way of overall layering during vocal harmonies although the Dyna has better ability to define the individual backing singers from one another. The Dyna seams to deliver the music in delightfully distributed morsels in the manor a well seasoned chef puts a quality meal together. Tonearm set to 1.9 grams and VTA 8mm above the level height to attempt to achieve 92' stylus rake without digital microscope accounting that with a 9" arm 4mm of height = aprox 1' of rake. There goes it my very first review of an audio product. I just received a Pro Ject phono RS with aftermarket linear outboard power supply so off to give it a listen. Cheers