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Cartridge Opinions - Sorry

Yeah, another dumb "what's your opinion on these cartridges" thread. Back in the late 80's we had dealers where you could listen to the stuff.

So anyhow I have a Linn LP12 with Ittok arm and a 30 year old Audioquest B200L cartridge. I'm running it through the phono stage of a Jeff Rowland Coherence One into a Spectral DMA90 through a set of Kef R300's.

I prefer a little more laid back sound (err on the side of forgiving instead of fatiguing) but I like a lot of upper end detail, precise soundstaging, air, etc.

So far I'm considering an Ortofon Quintet S Black, Hana SL or a Benz wood - something at or below the $1k level.

I'd love to hear any opinions, suggestions, and experiences with those cartridges or others in the price range. I could possibly go higher if there is something out there that really shines for less than $1,500.

Thanks.


klooker
kennyc
1,485 posts
 
@rauliruegasI just found out you have a very highly resolving relatively expensive system that can justify spending $ for optimization.

Get your cartridges optimize- get/hire a knowledgable cartridge optimization professional (maybe a seasoned dealer) to install on your turntable and learn from the experience. Make sure that they’re “optimizing” and not just installing. You’ll hear and appreciate the difference. Your system is much too good to leave performance on the table.

Also at your system’s level, it may be beneficial to track WBF where folks with some of the best systems available focus on performance rather than cost.

92 degrees explained
https://www.analogplanet.com/content/how-use-usb-digital-microscope-set-92-degree-stylus-rake-angle-...
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,824 posts
 
Hm, a turntable manufacturer thinks the arm is more important, a cartridge manufacturer think the cartridge is more important. Never mind that in the latter's explanation, he lists a number of reasons the arm is a lot more important than he suggests!.

Its no secret that Raul prefers digital. Most of the people I know that play vinyl insist that it sounds better than digital. All this says to me is that Raul isn't in this to be informative- he's in it to be right. There is a profound difference.
@kennyc  Its important not to take anything that shows up on internet forums personally- else the fatigue sets in quite quickly and the trolls win.

kennyc
1,485 posts
 
@atmasphere 
thanks for the advice.  Earlier I thought “atmasphere is lucky to have dodged this exercise”.  
daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,871 posts
 
@atmasphere  LOL, you are 100% correct. I too noticed that dear Raul didn't take it upon himself to consult with a tonearm manufacturer or turntable manufacturer....but that would risk him getting an opinion opposite to his!
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@atmasphere

please post your favorite tonearms, except for Triplanar and SME
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