Celebration vs Blackbird


Has anyone heard these carts. side by side? Are they voiced similar.
I am using a Sonic Frontiers SFP-1 signature phone preamp and according to an early review of this pre, it suggests that sonically the MM stage is superior to the MC. If this is the case I may opt for the Blackbird and use the MM. However it's pretty good in MC and I would hate to miss out any performance by NOT buying the Celebration.
Also a review on the Celebration suggests that it isn't a great tracker, any comments?
alun
The Sonic Frontiers is no slouch, and NOT a budget phono stage which must be replaced instantly: Sonic Frontiers is a very serious, respected name, and the SFP-1 Signature is a true high-end item even by lofty Audiogon standards. There will ALWAYS be better phono stages out there, at least in some respects (very rare to be better in all once you hit a certain level of quality), so no need to be advising him to ditch it and and stampede out to his nearest high-end audio dealer. I'm with you on your rationale re. the Celebration - btw, did you buy it yet? - as I too favour cartridges which reliably sound musical on ALL (at least most) records, and which reduce surface noise. The issue of whether super-radical sylus profiles ultra-sensitive to VTA and dirt are more trouble than they're worth - i.e. being forced to change VTA for each record, having to clean each LP before play, etc., which would personally have me take out a hammer to destroy the offending item - has arisen in this forum before. I've had my eye on the Celebration for quite some time now, would love to read a mini-review by you! A classic low-output MC in the mold of the Celebration (which follows in its inspiration such classics as Supex, Koetsu, Kiseki) pays enormous dividends, in a certain ineffable reproduction of sound which is more akin to sampling fine wines (flavour and beauty as opposed to the cold technical perfection of so many transducers today), and in longevity: I've had my Kiseki for 15 years now, and though it isn't set up at all times, it certainly has very many hours on it, and still performs as it did in its early days. This is a common experience too with Koetsus. Buy it, set it up once, and enjoy! Then get back to us. I may be following in your footsteps, as an alnico-magnetted MC certainly tickles my fancy.
I haven't purchased one yet as I'm still trying to make up my mind between the Blackbird and Celebration. I am leaning towards the Celebration however but I'd really like to hear my SFP-1sig in MM mode just to make sure it is being used to it's fullest.
Thanks for your opinion on the SFP-1 sig, it makes me feel that I'm still ok for a bit even though I do agree to some level what Raul was trying to say. I really like the Aesthetix and would like to hear it in my system but my Benz Micro gold would be wasted on such a beast!
I'll post an honest review on whichever cartridge I choose.
Well, I finally got my Celebration set up and about 10 hrs on it.
I'm hooked, as is my wife! This thing is simply amazing and without a doubt a HUGE step up from my baby Benz.

Setup was very easy and well documented and it sounded great right out of the box.

No problem with the SFP Signature+ phono stage and my passive line stage.

So far we have been enjoying LP's we previously couldn't play due to poor sound quality. The Celebration runs down the groove without a hint of trouble. No mistracking or inner groove distortion to ruin the last song on the lp. It's tremendous bass is a bonus with the sometimes light bottomed ETII tonearm.

I can't speak highly enough of this baby and it's a sure bet. Probably one of the biggest upgrades EVER in my system.

Thanks to all those who helped us out.
Dear Alun: Congratulations!!!!!

Yes, the Celebration is a great performer. Good news for you: after 100 hours this " baby "really shine, you will see.

Till to now I'm always post that the Celebration is the " century bargain " an outperforms several of the very top high/price cartridges out there.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
Alun,
I had an SFP1 Siggy for a time and enjoyed it immensely (replaced it with an SF Phono 1). This is an excellent sounding phono stage however there is one small thing to watch in the setup between MM and MC. The MC mode inverts absolute phase where the MM mode does not. You may find a difference in your sound if you correct for this somewhere in the signal path. Just a suggestion.
Actually, I am interested in your impressions of this cartridge as I am playing with the idea of changing my own.