Cartridge upgrade for SME 20/2A???

Ah, so the 90 degree angle is an SME thing is it? By the way Raul, that is a beautiful looking preamp that you've built! (I've been looking at a few of your posts from the last little while :) Would you mind sharing some of your thoughts regarding the Sumiko Celebration cartridge - I think you mentioned it in one of your other posts?

Thanks,

George

Just to update for those that are interested, I replaced the Van Den Hul interconnect with an Audioquest Jaguar - a subtle but nice improvement, still not quite the level of resolution I am looking for. I'm going to spend a little time making sure that the arm/cartridge setup is optimal, then I will have a listen to a couple more phono stages. Stubbornly, I still think a new cartridge is a priority, but it is also the hardest to audition, so I'll keep an open mind on the phono pre. Any recommendations you guys have will certainly be appreciated.

In the end, I will likely stick with a dynavector cartridge of some type, since I like the overall dynavector sound, but I will listen to as many of the recommended cartridges as I can dig up.

Esoxhntr, you have a very nice system. I have a 20/2 with a Graham Phantom and a Dynavector XV-1S, which I love very much. I started with a Cardas Golden Cross phono cable into my Ayre K-1xe phono stage, then moved up to a Purist Aqueous Anniversary, which is still breaking in but delivering a lot more of the music with much better dynamics and soundstaging already. I also acquired an Aesthetix Io Signature (I was advised to stay away from the Rhea) which I found to be a huge step up from the Ayre phono stage (which has been praised in magazine reviews and here on the 'Gon). While my recent experience with different products is limited as you can see and I clearly do not have the expertise that others on this thread bring to the table (some of whom have helped me very much over the past year), what it has demonstrated to me is the extraordinary difference cables and phono stage can make.

Doug Deacon and Kevin Tellekamp convinced me to spend the money to get a Loricraft, which I did with great misgivings. However, I can now say that none of my other purchases in the past 18 months has been more valuable to listening to LPs than the Loricraft.

Good listening,

Ed

Cipherjuris,
I know this is off topic, but as the thread is starting to discuss improvements to an analog front end, could you please elaborate about how exactly the Loricraft improved your sound? I currently use a VPI 16.5 and though it is loud, it does clean the record. I guess the point is that everything from the cleaning thru to the interconnects leaving the phonostage should be thought of as a "system".

Peterayer,

I certainly agree with your point that "everything from the cleaning thru to the interconnects leaving the phonostage should be thought of as a [vinyl] 'system'."

I have had for many years a Nitty Gritty record cleaner. It was certainly a great improvement over my previous ineffectual efforts to clean vinyl going back to my pre-high school days. However, results with the Nitty Gritty were well short of perfect.

I have not owned a VPI 16.5. However, this past year when I re-committed myself to vinyl (we had replaced our old transport & DAC with an Ayre C-5xe and my wife was arguing that we should get rid of the TT and sell our vinyl) and decided that the time to replace the Nitty Gritty was long overdue, a local dealer was kind enough to clean 10 of my most treasured Mercuries, Shaded Dogs and Ray Charles albums with his 16.5. The result was a decided improvement over my old Nitty Gritty, but still far from the level of improvement I was seeking.

I continued to seek advice from some of those whose knowledge, objectivity and opinions on analog matters I greatly respected. Their advice was to swallow hard and part with the big bucks to get a Loricraft. I did so reluctantly, but from the first record I cleaned with it, I was and continue to be very happy with my purchase. Most of my LPs are now as quiet as my CDs, as difficult as that may be to believe. I would recommend the Loricraft to anyone who has a substantial investment in vinyl and plans to continue to play it. I am very confident that the Loricraft will not only allow you to enjoy to a far greater degree the sonic wonders of your valuable collection but will also be a much better partner in helping you to preserve it for future generations.

Good listening,

Ed