Cartridge headshell, what would you choose and why?


Hi Audiogoners,
It is price from $15 to $800. What is the advantage of buying an expensive one? What do you hear?
Thanks,
Calvin

dangcaonguyen
Personally I have no experience with Orsonic, which makes multiple models, A cursory look at Google returns show an AV1s, AV1b, AV101s, AV101b, AV11s, and Av11b. I don't know the distinctions, and the eBay listings don't seem to differentiate either. 

The AV101 series cost about 50% more than the AV1 and AV11 series. I notice that the included cartridge leads are not as nice as the ones included with the Sumiko and ZuPreme headshells. But that doesn't tell everything.

I do know that the ZuPreme is slightly lighter than the Sumiko. I have a 6.5g cartridge on my Sumiko and an 8.3g on my ZuPreme, and yet the overall weight of each assembly is the same (21g). I don't have to reset zero balance when I switch, which was a happy accident.
Johnnyb53

The Sumiko's and the Jelco's are the same head shell except the Jelco's have the arm finger lift attached.  The Sumiko's do not. The LP/Gears ''Zupreme'' is the Jelco version of the same Sumiko's.  Yes, there are stranger things that are also true in this hobby or ours!  (grin)  People are more familiar with the Sumiko name so the Jelco's also get overlooked.  Even more so overlooked are the ''Zupreme''.  
Regards,
Dear Dang: Quality level sound reproduction does not depends directly from the price of any audio item. 

In a headshell maybe the more expensive looks better that the humble ones but that could not be reflected on quality sound level.

In your specific audio system and with your specific and unique music sound reproduction priorities you have to try 4-5 different headshells ( different headhsel build materials and different headshell weights too. ) and test each one with your cartridge to find out in which one performs better your cartridge. I can say not an easy task but a must to do it.

Same headshell with the same cartridge in different audio system gives you different sound.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.


Thank you Rauiruegas.
I have a LP Gear Zupreme on ordered. It will arrive in about a week.
Calvin