In the market for a cartridge for Clearaudio Innovation Wood

Understood there is not substitute for listening in your own room and own system. However in this case the cartridge/arm/table interface is the critical piece and they can certainly help with that. Good luck and happy listening!

@michkhol
I’ve run various flavors of Koetsu Platinum on my Clearaudio Innovation, for the 4 years I’ve had it. I think it’s a wonderful combination; incredibly musical with great resolution, great for all genres from classical to rock. Excited to be moving up to the Master Innovation very soon (with 12" Universal to compare to my current Phantom Supreme).

Currently running a freshly rebuilt Onyx Platinum, with a nearly new Coralstone in reserve. Also had an RSP on this table; also very good. And I’ve also run a Cadenza Bronze here, and it’s quite nice, but the Koetsu are obviously better and more enjoyable.

I got into Koetsu some years ago by hitting the used market to get into reasonable price brackets. It worked out well for me.

I've got a Dynavector xv-1s on my Innovation and like it a lot.  Its quick and clean with a good soundstage and  deep tight bass, .  Had an xx-2/2 which I also liked.  The xv-1s is just more of the same.  I can't compare them to a lot of other cartridges and everything is system dependent, but they are definitely worth exploring.

@mulveling 
Thanks! How is the bass with Koetsu? I've been looking at them but I read that they were good mostly for middle range. 

@michkhol 
Bass is quite satisfying and extended with any of the stone-body Platinum models; slightly less satisfying with the Rosewood Signature Platinum. That said, Koetsus doesn't have the bass thump/punch of a modern high-line Ortofon; my old Windfeld MC (and what I've heard in the A90 and Anna on other systems) had better bass than any Koetsu, but lost out big-time in mids and highs (much sweeter and more natural with Koetsu) -- hence my switch.