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$2k for new Cartridge Benz LP or......

Hi all,

I'm looking to change my cartridge and have the opportunity to trade my Benz Ruby 2 for an LP for $2k. I will be able to hear the LP but not in my system...and the system I will hear it in is significantly differnent so the excercise may be less than useful. I also have Helikon on hand but found it not as pleasing through the mid band as the Benz. It is sitting on the shelf with probably less than 200hrs on it.

What else is out there around the $2k mark that would have the ease through the mid band and some slam..I have refurbed stacked ESLs running back through a Berning ZH 270 or Futterman H3 or Various vintage amps to an Aesthetix Io Sig with VC & 2 supplies . Arm is an SMEV and Hovland MusicGroove 2.

$2K is a challenge I know.. but this is the ease of entry for the LP I'd really love an upper end Koetsu but the $$$ are not workable now..Thanks for any comments.
nkj
sirspeedy706802461
28 posts
 
All of the potential choices,here are really quite valid,but Albert makes a salient point,regarding Koetsus.I had about ten years of music life,with Koetsus.They really can become addictive,and with good reason.Once you live with them(though there are other great designs now,but it still doesn't diminish the Koetsu legacy)it is really hard to pull away from that trademark,let's call it "sonic presentation",which is quite remarkable.I do wish I could sport a few designs,and a Koetsu would surely be one,though I've moved on.

I sold my Onyx Sapphire,and then Urushi to a friend,who gladly snatched it up.What he did was find a retip service in England(I forgot who),who did the work for300.00- 400.00 dollars per cartridge.He has been a busy beaver,snatching up an "almost wine cellar type" of collection,and retipping cheaply.He is ecstatic with the retip results,though NOT from Koetsu.Trust me,he knows what he's doing,and has been at the hobby for over thirty years.

Just food for thought.Best regards!
dgad
782 posts
 
I recommend the My Sonic Labs "The Eminent" for about $2500 brand new. It is an excellent cartridge that I currently prefer in my system to the Dynavector XV-1s. It does have some of the Koetsu Magic but has incredible dynamics & great extension at the extremes. I haven't tried it on my SME V though to know compatability. The Benz is supposed to be an ideal match for the SME. I prefer my Dynavector on a high mass tonearm.
paladin's avatar
paladin
227 posts
 
I have the same table - Oracle Mk. V with a Vector arm & the Benz LP ebony.
It sounds fantastic!
Great bass, superior highs & a very lush & warm midrange.
As soon as my new racks arrive - I will switch the Benz LP ebony to my Nottingham Mentor with SME V5 (my reference table) & use the VDH Colibri with my Oracle/Vector combo.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Richard
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rauliruegas
12,848 posts
 
Dear Nkj: The Ruby 2 is a very good cartridge and mates good with your V specially if you re-wired internally. The LP is a different cartridge, very good too but I preffer the Ruby 2.

No, I don't like the Koetsu Rosewood the Ruby 2 is far better. If you want a Koetsu you have to go for the Rosewood Signature Platinum.

Maybe you don't have to pay 2K for something different that you really like, here are some very good alternatives:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgcart&1145120698

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgcart&1143426655

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgcart&1142611400

and the Sumiko Celebration ( 1.5K. New. ). This one was voiced with the tonearm you have: great match.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
oldvinyl
37 posts
 
I started years ago with a Benz MC-Gold, and have worked through the Glider, H2O, Ruby 2 and now the LP for the past 3 years. My system has the exact same phono stage ( Io Signature with volume controls and 2 power supplies ). My table (Avid) has the SME IV arm.

The step from the Ruby 2 to the LP is a quantum leap. And this is based on the LP from 3 years ago. Benz keeps improving it. If you want more info, call Garth at Musical Surroundings. They have stepped up the output voltage a little and changed some of the internal parts, yet kept the price the same.

One nice thing about Benz is that factory retip is reasonably priced. Often, you just simply wind up with a new cartridge and the old one is cycled back through. As you know, it is less expensive to stay within the Benz line for an upgrade than to switch brands.

The LP is very lyrical, harmonically rich and has deep, taut bass. The timbres are very natural - transparent and revealing. I love the sound of the Benz. Have not tried a Koetsu, my friends that have them love them and they also like the sound of my analog playback. The LP tracks well and is perfectly mated to the SME arm. Vocals are really well rendered, soloists and massed chorus alike. I listen to lots of classical and some jazz, most of it recorded in a hall with minimal microphones (ie not studio recordings). The LP really lends itself to conveying the ambience and warmth of acoustically recorded music.

One thing I did find was that I had to get a really well shielded DIN-RCA tonearm cable. I tried the Hovland, Graham, Harmonic Tech and Music Metre and settled on the Nordost Quattro Fil (just upgraded to Nordost Frey).

Good luck on your search.
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