Advice needed on MC cartridges

Anybody have a thought on Soundsmith’s "The Voice" High Output Moving Iron cartridge. I was informed today that "The Voice" would work with my Luxman’s integrated amp’ using it’s MM phono stage setting. It’s at the low end of my price range at $3000 and is well reviewed. I’m wondering how it might compare with the Lyros Kleos, or another possible choice, the Koetsu Rosewood at $3995, the high end of my price range..

I’m not absolutely sure that the Koetsu’s specs match up to work with the MC settings on the Luxman, but was told they would. If anyone could confirm they would or would not, that would be helpful. Thanks,

Ericsch- It would be nice to have more options and flexibilty than the Luxman MM/MC settings provide. But I’d prefer not spend the amount it would take to get a good quality separate phonostage. I only buy new and that would likely take a $1000 plus out of my budget, not too mention whatever the extra wires to it might run. I’m much too cheap for that.

Thank you for your suggestion though. It’s a sensible option. I’ve already two or three good cartridge choices within the limitations of the Luxman’s built in phono stage, so it should work out.

Mike

@skyscraper , I have a Voice and it is a great cartridge. It is a wonderful tracker, is very quiet as it has a great stylus and is beautifully put together. Most people given an AB between the Kleos and the Voice would not be able to tell the difference as long as the volumes were matched. The Koetsu is the outlier. It will not track as well as the Voice or Kleos and is colored. There is not one Koetsu cartridge I am interested in. My next cartridge is likely to be the Lyra Atlas Lambda SL in combination with the Channel D Seta Plus transimpedance phono stage. Lyra is special. Johnathan Carr's cartridges routinely measure better than any other moving coil cartridge. This actually says a lot about the Voice. It is a lot of cartridge for the money. It is the exact same cartridge as the $5000 Sussurro with a few more windings on it's coils. They are priced differently because they exist in different markets. I got the Voice because the phono stage I currently have just does better with higher output cartridges. It is an ARC PH3 SE and it is killer with high output cartridges. It got me through my child rearing years and it is just about time to move on. I will undoubtedly get more than I paid for it. At any rate I think you have landed on two great choices and which way you go depends more on money than anything else. 

Jim, your posts are so encouraging. If the Lyra Kleos and Soundsmith’s "The Voice" sound as similar as you say, maybe I’ll go with The Voice. It’s priced a fair amount lower than the Kleos plus Soundsmith has an economical rebuild program if the cartridge ever needs it.

I called Soundsmith today. They recommended The Voice too out of their product line, as it would work on the Luxman 507ux MkII amp’s SS setting, while their LO cartridges wouldn’t work on its’ MC settings. Another person I spoke to elsewhere today about both these cartridges happened to be a Sussorro owner. She recommended the Soundsmith Voice as well. It’s interesting you mentioned they are similarly constructed.

I’ll drop the Koetsu Rosewood as a possible choice for the reason you mentioned. Maybe I’m starting to get this wrapped up. Thanks again,

Mike

Mike, I respect your opinion.

However, there is little risk in

purchasing a relatively new

pre-owned SS phono preamp.

Good luck in your search.