Well, I will give the quick synopsis of the few I have tried, since I got back into analog about 5 years ago.
Note: As a point of reference, my analog system first consisted of a Basis 1400, with RB 300 tonearm, then went to a Basis 2001, with a RB 900 tonearm, which was replaced with a Basis Vector M3, with the tonearm wires being terminated with XLRs. (The phono preamp for the Basis 1400 was an ARC PH-3, and was quickly replaced with the phono boards in my Ayre K-1xe preamp, which is designed to run balanced.)
First up was the Benz Micro Glider 2 (MO):
A nice cartridge, with a decent enough black background. It had a fairly extended frequency response, but to be honest it was somewhat analytical in my opinion, such that when I listened to it, I imagined I was listening to a very nice CD player. The soundstaging and imaging was good though. (If I was to give it a Stereophile grade, I'd give it a C). However, it also had an exposed cantilever, which for a visiting kid, made sounds through the speakers somewhat like a guitar when you strummed it. (Needless to say, after it broke, I moved on to ....
My second cartridge, which was a Koetsu Black. Now this is when I truly fell in love with my analog system. The first thing I noticed is the deep, dark black background that the Koetsu has. The soundstaging and imaging was very good. The Black, while it has a slightly rolled off top end, and a fairly loose bass response, still had that Koetsu mid-range magic that you hear so much about. Is it too lush? Maybe, but I could not have cared less, as this is what analog is all about, IMHO. It just makes you want to listen for hours on end. (If I was to give it a Stereophile grade, I'd give it a B-).
My third cartridge was, naturally enough, a Koetsu Rosewood Signature, which I got an incredible deal on from a seller on Ebay. This was a clear step up from the Black, as the soundstaging and imaging was even better. It had more extended treble, and a somewhat tighter bass response, (but still not really deep, or tight, to be honest). However, it provided me with near reference sound from the upper mid-range up through the treble. (I think there might have been a slight bit of roll off to the very top end, but not so much that you'd care, after you started listening.) The mid-range magic was still there from the Black, and it integrated even better with the more extended frequency response. The background was still deep and dark black. At this point, I knew I was hooked on having deep dark black backgrounds. (If I was to give it a Stereophile grade, I'd give it a B+). However, I found a great deal on another cartridge that I wanted to try, because of the reports of its incredible bass response, so on I moved, to ....
My fourth cartridge was the Shelter 90X. This cartridge while an improvement over the Koetsu Rosewood Signature in most aspects, was not better in all aspects. The Shelter's background was not nearly as deep and dark black as the Koetsu line. It was, I think slightly better than the Glider's background though. In addition, while it had a warm touch to the mid-range, it did not have the lushness that the Koetsu line had. (But enough of the nit-picking, on to the good qualities!) It was a more neutral sounding cartridge, with great extension on both ends of the frequency range, which gave it a nice balanced sound. From its great bass response, (the best I have ever heard, I think), to its upper treble response, (although, to be honest I think its treble response has just the slightest touch of graininess to it, as I was to find out when compared with my next cartridge). The soundstaging and imaging was as good as the Koetsu Rosewood Signature. This was what I consider to be a reference cartridge, (especially for the money), as it had great frequency extension at both ends, and the sound was very well balanced. (If I was to give it a Stereophile grade, I'd give it an A-). And I would have stopped here in my quest for the perfect cartridge (for me anyway), except for the merely good deep, dark backgrounds. (I found that I still longed for the deeper dark black backgrounds that I had experienced with the Koetsu cartridges, despite their drawbacks.) So, when my friend was selling his cartridge, and having heard it and liking it a lot, I figured I'd give it a shot, so .....
My fifth, and currently my last cartridge (and one which I truly think IS my last cartridge!), is the Dynavector XV-1S. This is truly my reference cartridge. It has very, very good bass response (nearly as good as the Shelter - within spitting distance as they say). It has a wonderfully detailed and extended treble response, (slightly more detailed and refined than the Shelter 90X). The mid-range to quote Downunder has a "sound natural and un-hifi sounding". It is not Koetsu lush, but it has that certain something that just makes me want to tap my toes, if you know what I mean. The soundstaging and imaging is incredible as well, better than any of the other cartridges I have ever owned. (If I was to give it a Stereophile grade, I'd give it a solid A).
Well, those are my two cents worth anyway.
