Cartridge Recommendations

good input Hatari. The Kondo needs a very well matched SUT, e.g. the SFZ KSL using the 1 Ohm input or another very fine inbuilt SUT. I like some MMs too but they will never, never ever reach a well adjusted Kondo IO-m in the right chain. This is for sure!

best & fun only - Thuchan

Dear Thuchan: IMHO the KOndo IO makes it better trhough an active high gain phono stage, I know this cartridge that I runned with the own AN SUT and with out SUT. Obviously that this is only an additional opinion.

On the other side affirm that " a well adjusted IO in the right chain " never be reached by a MM/MI cartridge is IMHO only a misunderstood ( for say the least. ) by your part.

In the " right chain " the right MM/MI cartridge IMHO competes and in some ways surpass the IO quality performance, but remember that I'm talking of levels of Excellence: nothing less. The humble and " ridiculous " looking B&O MMC2/1 are examples of those MM/MI cartridges I was refering.

Thuchan why if you always refute " absolutes " on the IO/MM_MI subject you speak on " absolutes " terms ?.

Anyway, as I said only an additional opinion.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Raul,

if you ever have tested the Kondo IO-m in a pure Kondo chain, meaning Kondo KSL SFz and Kondo M7 as I do and as Roy Gregory has described it in a very good way as the "Kondo artillery" you would no go for the active high gain phono stage or something may be wrong with you :-)

This is real excellence! believe me or not. I invited you many times but you prefer living your philosophy which is ok for me.

best & fun only - Thuchan

Dear Thuchan: I readed the RG review but he does not compare with nothing near a MM/MI alternative.

In the other side, I think that you did not heard in the last six months a top MM/MI cartridge in the right overall set-up and this is IMHO what makes you post what you post because with out a fresh experiences on the best of the best on MM/MI cartridges ( not the ones you own. ) in the right audio system how could you attest that this alternative can't reach the Kondo one?. IMHO makes no sense to me that you states something with out heard it and taking reviews as to confirm what you heard on the Kondo one.

Anyway, I'm only trying to help Hatari. Enough on this subject, it is useless to go on.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Raul,

you are a MM afficinado and I am a MC afficinado. As simple as that.
Nothing wrong about it and we both will enjoy.
On MMs the opinions vary too as you have seen on the MM thread and among my 10 MMs (you have much more I guess) there are some (!) other audio friends assessing my units as their favourites. It is just a matter of taste.

best & fun only - Thuchan