Celebration vs Blackbird

Can you point me to the Celebration Review?

I am running the Celebration in an older WTT classic table with black platter.

I find it to be outstanding, but of course have not heard any other high end carts recently. It was replacing a Crown jewel SE in my system, and can sayafter break in it sounds wonderful. Analog has never sounded do good in my system.(I used to have a CLavis- but that was long ago). The thing I like about it is it seems to be designed so that you dont need a perfect setup to extract maximum sonics. I just personally dont think the WTT allows one to set up at critically as other tables might, and honestly I dont spend the time
adjusting tracking force and VTA to exact the highest standards. I pretty much set up the way the manuf. suggests, play with VTA a little till balance sounds right and enjoy.

I am thinking about upgrading to a higher end table/arm, but obviosly we're talking 6-10K to better the sound of the WTT, so I have to research and save more money before upgrading. Again, I always felt like I was never really hearing LP's at their best because I wasn't able to set up/tweek the wash it should be done (ociliscopes, etc), but now I don't worry, I just enjoy.

I also like the fact that the suspension is really designed for long life.

Hi there, sounds like your pretty happy with your setup, congrats!
Here is the review on the Celebration:
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0402/sumikocelebration.htm
I guess I'm kinda wondering whether it is worth the substantial investment over the Blackbird.
Thank you for your response

Oh yes, I did see that review, but didn't remember it talking about less than stellar tracking.

I never heard the blackbird, so I can't comment.

I do believe that sumiko will give you an allowance with trading in an older sumiko cart. Check it out - also Needle Doc seemed to offer good deals on the Celebration.

My mistake, the tracking was mentioned in Absolute Sound!

Dear Alun: I don't know nothing about your phonopreamp, so I can't tell you if it is true that the MM stage is better than the MC stage on it, other than if the MC stage use internal step up transformers then it is better if you go for the blackbird.

The Celebration is a better quality sound performer with the right gain ( with out external/internal SUT ) phonopreamp and I never had any tracking problem with it in any record.

Now, in my opinion, the phonopreamp is the most important link on an analog rig, if you want to take out the best of your analog rig you have to put your money in the best phonopreamp that you can buy on your budget. You will be rewarded if you do so.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.