What is the “World’s Best Cartridge”?

@mglik : " putting the stylus down on the run in grove there is dead silence. As well as the groves between cuts. This silence is indicative of the purity of the music content. "

I already posted here about your statement but was till today that I fall in count that one of the main Grado characteristic in its Optimized transmission line cartridge design was to " disappears " the surface noise but not only in the unmodulated grooves but mainly in the modulated grooves and achieve that with out any single compromise/trade-off that could disturb the true MUSIC signal information and yes you can hearing it. It’s part of that high quality level performance you are in experience with your Epoch 3.

Again, congratulations for,

R.

Don’t know the difference in the Grado Epoch3 tip. Only know that the cart tracks, it is said, better than any cartridge. On the run in/out and between cuts, the silence is deafening. And, as I have said, the SQ is well beyond the Lyra Atlas SL. It is a new, amazing level of realism. I was lead to the Epoch3 by reading about the Decca London Reference. The Grado may be well beyond the Decca. 

BTW-I am also married to myTriplanar SE arm. It was quite involved and difficult ti mount it on my TT. And I would not second guess the Triplanar quality and compatibility.

Dear @mglik  : Yes, it's obvious that with a 20cu compliance it has to track very well. Maybe not better " than any cartridge " but at the ends a good tracker.

I own and owned several cartridges with different compliance spec and no one high compliance ( this is 20cu and up ) disappointed on that specific issue but certainly are better tracking cartridges but " unfortunatelly " not with the great cartridge motor of your sample.

I need to experience it and compare with the vintage signature Z series.

R.

Dear @lewm  : I just seen/aware of what you posted time before.

" Raul, in your own experience, what is the best sounding cartridge? . "

I already posted what has a close relationship with your question.

There is no best cartridge at all  because the quality level performance of any cartridge have several playing desired characteristics where you can't diminish any one of them and unfortunatelly no single cartridge model achieves all at the top:

you have to ask your self: the best tracking, the best HF/MF/LF, the best low noise, the best transient response, the best natural color, the best natural agresiveness or brigthness, the best rythm,...etc.

And that's why the best cartridges overall sounds alike and between that " sounds alike " we make our choices with the cartridges that are nearer to each one of us targets.

If $$$ is no issue then the best choice is to own 3-4 of those " alike " performers and stay away to married with one cartridge model. You can be sure that those cartridge choices will fulfill your targets.

lewm, we are talking of transducers where each one has a similar but " unique/signature " voice exactly as a speaker but obviously and normally we don't own 4 different speakers but 3-4 cartridges do not needs the speaker space to listen it.

R.