Help with Cartridge selection

Dan_Ed asked a good question. Anyone who suggests a cartridge without knowing your sonic preferences is largely just offering up their own. You might like what they like, or not.

If you were willing to base your decision on which cartridge is most popular you might ask an online retailer which one they sell the most of. Not how I'd prefer to choose, but that sort of validation is about all threads like this can offer without some discussion of your sonic (not musical) goals. You may not understand those yet yourself, as Dan noted, but this would be a useful time to begin thinking about them.

It would be helpful if people who'd heard several cartridges on your list offered sonic comparisons. That might help you choose or at least begin to find a direction that would serve the way you hear recorded sound.

Dan and Tubeo did invoke a useful rule: the low output version of any particular MC will probably outperform the high output version of the same cartridge. Your phono stage has ample gain and impedance adjustability, so there's no reason to compromise LOMC performance by choosing the HO version.

Dan_Ed I Like my system to sound as natural as possible. I love hearing the attack and decay of notes. I love detail..the sound of a sax players juicy reed, the harmonics caused by really good harmony between vocals and between instraments. I like a wide and deep sound stage, airy highs, liquid mids with tight articulated bass. Or again I like it natural!

Based on your stated preferences, I would eliminate the Soundsmith and Ortofon immediately.

In fact your tonearm, and system for that matter, deserve more than an Ortofon Cadenza.

IMO

Dealer disclaimer.

Gandme,

Yep, I'm thinking along the same lines as Bill, but it's not my money we're spending here. :-) (With your system I'd be thinking XV-1s, Orpheus L, Titan II, Benz LP, etc. but I understand needing to draw the line somewhere.) Even the Benz Glider may not be quite neutral enough, but I'm guessing what your tolerance threshold is. From your list I myself would stay with Lyra or Dynavector. ZYX might also be an option but I've lost track of that whole enterprise. Doug would perhaps have some input there.

You certainly came back to vinyl with a vengeance considering the setup you have now!

I have not heard the Delos, but, I am a big fan of Lyra cartridges (I own a Titan). They are invariably built to a high standard and last a very long time. The Delos has a reputation for being a touch warmer and more relaxed sounding than the Titan, which is probably compatible with your choice of speaker and amplfication.

I also have an Orpheus L, which is a terrific cartridge too. It is a little more prominent in the upper midrange than the Titan, and perhaps a little less open and extended at the very top compared with the Titan. I have heard the cheaper Transfiguration cartridge, the Phoenix, in a friend's system. That is a very good sounding cartridge for a lot less money. It is quite lively sounding and I particularly enjoyed it playing both cool and hard bop jazz.