2. analog
  3. 155381-82739

van den Hul Colibri, Koetsu Rosewood Signature, SoundSmith Sussurro Mk ii

After years of focusing on medium to high compliance MM and MI cartridges (and a handful of old piezoelectrics) in various turntables, I'm finally looking to add my first serious MC cartridge.  I've long been interested in either the Koetsu Rosewood Signature or the van den Hul Colibri (XGP/XGW) and had planned to go with one of those carts.  That said, I've seen enough glowing reviews of the SoundSmith Sussorro and its progeny to make me seriously consider that as an alternate route.  I would love to hear thoughts from anyone who has experience with more than one of those carts.
The cart will be mounted in a Moerch DP6 (yellow) as the second arm on a Thorens TD 124.
My listening tastes are eclectic, so I'm particularly interested in how the carts handle a diversity of music.
Thanks in advance.
Best,
Carroll
cmdc
lancelock
1,087 posts
 
I can’t speak about any of the carts you listed but I absolutely love my Soundsmith Paua MK2 ES
cmdc OP
13 posts
 
Thanks, lancelock. I have a SoundSmith The Voice that I really love, and the Sussurro is apparently a step up from both that and the Paua. The ES is another evolution still, so I have no idea how a Paua ii ES would compare to the earlier Sussuro ii.
agrippa
160 posts
 
I don’t know the Sussurro, or for that sake any other Soundsmith cartridge, but of the Colibri and the Rosewood Signature the former wins as far as I’m concerned. Not because the Koetsu is bad in any way; au contraire, it’s a glorious cartridge. I do, however, find the Colibri more neutral, more homogenous, more agile, with a tighter bass performance and simply better suited as an all-round cartridge for all kinds of music.

My own musical tastes could be said to be eclectic too I guess and I listen to classical, early music, 60s/70s British rock/folk/folk-rock, a wide variety of "ethnic" music, French chansons, classic jazz, indie rock, blues and much more. While the Koetsu would be slightly better suited to a some genres, it would be less suited to others, while the Colibri handles each and every one superbly.
cmdc OP
13 posts
 
Thanks, Agrippa, this is very helpful.
More to discover