Help with cartridge selection

Flyingred, with proper phono stage gain matching and set up (VTA/VTF etc..) the 17D2 should perform just fine in bass engery and impact. Perhaps comments you heard in this area were from users with improper set up or phono stage matching? I admit to having to experiment a lot with the JMW9 arm/17D2 set up to get it where I am today. But as a result I think I now better understand its abilities and how set up changes impact the sound.

I do agree that the 17D2 is leaning towards detail and precision, thus my initial comments on it being a dynamic and neutral cart.

93cobra, does your classe have ~60 dB of gain for its phono stage? If so, that and your preference for detail and precision make the 17D2 a strong candidate.

Good luck!

I have a Clearaudio Aurum Beta S on mine and I love it.

I'd try a Benz Glider. It comes in 3 different outputs and you can match that to your phono stage. However the Shure is a classic and is probably the best MM made. It won't sound as good as a Glider or Sumiko Blackbird, but you already own it !
Best of luck,
Chris

Dlwask I agree 100% - any cartridge's performance is influenced by the arm, table and the accuracy of set up.

93cobra I would suggest the 17D2 has the potential to be ideal for you. It's design concept (short diamond cantilever) is original allowing it to faithfully retrieve information from the groove.

I think that if you buy one you could then have a lot of fun working with the other variables to tune in the sound you want.

Look into a Lyra Dorian.

I heard one on a Scout w/ JMW 9 at Brooks Berdan's store a month ago and it sounded damn good. Granted, Brooks is famous for squeezing the best possible performance out an overall system, so there were probably several other factors in the sound.

That setup sure sounded smooth and detailed. Of course, he had a Hovland HP-100 tube preamp and Rogue Zeus amp downstream - that's an awful lot of tubes. The Dorian might sound a little more lean in your SS setup.

Anyway, for $800 it might be worth looking into.