2. analog
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Love the shelter 501MK2, what's the next step

...if I was to budget up to $5000.00....

The Shelter is currently partnered with an Oracle Delphi MK VI, SME 345 Tonearm, Sutherland PHD, Primaluna Dialogue 3 Pream, Primaluna Dialogue 7 w/KT-77 tubes, Gallo Ref 3.5 and Nordost Tyr cable all around.

I have lots of CD, I also have a Mac mini server for convenience, so when I sit down for some vinyls I do want midrange lushness, great tonal range, great depth and sound-staging.

I only got back into analog 4 years ago and I listen mostly to well recorded jazz, vocals not much Pop/Rock. I selected the shelter with a second hand Avid Diva as a starter and kept the cartridge when I move up to the Oracle a few months ago. I really like the sound, I am not looking at fixing anything in particular, just wandering if I am missing something that I don't know that I am wanting as I have not much exposure with other cartridge.

Should I stay with the shelter 501? or am I missing something? Up to 5K budget.
firewall
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,370 posts
 
Never heard the 501 specifically but I've had quite a few Dynavectors all the way up to the XX-2mk2 as well as the Shelter 90X. The Shelter 90X was far and away the most magical of the bunch. I would guess that if you really like the 501 so much that you would not be sad with the sound of a step up the line in the Shelter brand. I never heard but my dealer for the 90X said the Shelter Harmony cartridge was significantly better than the 90x and that would be in your 5000 price range too. 5000 for a cartridge that seems so crazy lol.
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
I'd spend the money for a better tonearm before spending $5K on a cartridge for an SME 345.

IMO
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Therapy.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
Lyra Kleos. No need to spend $5k
firewall OP
5 posts
 
Thanks for the feedbacks.

How much therapy can one get for $5K!.

Up to $5000.00 key word is "UP" it doesn't have to be.

I am currently happy at $1200.00! What get confusing is when I look at Needledoctor.com and there is 80 cartridges available from $1200.00 to $5K! it get complicate real fast. and than there is another 32 above $5K.

My whole cartridge experience is with one.. the Shelter 501MK2 and I don't think that any dealer have a large selection that you can borrough for a weekend. Secondly, it is kind of a catch 22 with the dealers they like what they sell hardly objective and you can't blame them.

The only information that I can gather from here and published reviews.

The problem with HIFI is as your disposable income increase with age your hearing ability goes down.

If you go from a 501 to a Harmony, Kleos or any other suggestion, what benefit should I expect or am I limited by the tonearm as Audiofeil indicated ? then it opens another can of worns, if I change the tonearm, what would I gain.. but that is for another day, I intend put some mileage on the SME first. it is easier to justify a cartridge as I had the shelter for 4 years.
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