Need help picking a cart for VPI Prime


Hey all, just got a new VPI Prime, replacing my ole HW19 mk3. Love it!

I have two carts that I’m listening to, an Ortofon 2m bronze and a Denon dl160.

Looking to upgrade or get a new stylus. Both are a bit old, though I haven’t played as may records before as I’m playing now :)
Since switching carts isn’t as easy as a head shell swap ( and no, I’m not buying another arm), quickly listening to the differences is not so quick.

But I find the Ortofon to be more “fun”

I mainly listen to rock, Bowie, Dire Straights, Sting, female vocals, Diana Krall, Carly Simon, Pink Floyd, jazz, etc (a bit of a mix).

I like detail, without too much bite(Focal 1008be2), vocals more towards the front, smooth mids, tight and deep bass. Basically I want everything, for it to sound real ;)

System
VPI prime Lehmann blackcube se2 Primaluna Dialogue Premium integrated Focal 1008be2

I’m looking at the Ortofon Black quintet (Harry says the prime arm was voiced with this cart, Hana SL,
Or go cheep and just bet another stylus for the Ortofon 2m bronze that I already have and like.

Any other suggestions would be great!

Thanks
mdr
mdelrossi1
   I have a Prime tt too. Harry also recommends a VAS nova cartridge which is a bargin for the money sound wise. He just has A AS build 12 for him. Harry is selling them at a great price.

  As of yesterday he had 1 left to sell. Look on the VPI forums under Harry's corner. I run a Lyra Kloes. 
Here is my top list of MM cartridges, they can beat each other, but nothing can beat them:

Grace F-14 LC-OFC
Grace LEVEL II MR/MR
Audio-Technica AT-ML170
Audio-Technica AT-ML180
Stanton CS-100 W.O.S.
Joseph Grado Signature XTZ
Glanz MFG-61
Pioneer PC-1000 MKII 
Thanks for all the help.

I ended up with the Hana SL. 4 sides in and loving it. 

mdr
If you want to stay with current production, get the 2M Black stylus and use it on the Bronze's body, which should be the same. 2M Black is a spectacular cartridge. Chakster and Raul have all of the vintage recommendations covered. 
Seems like you needed no help at all?

Why ask, when you have the means to discover for yourself?
@mdelrossi1 - if you want to breath some new life into your existing cart perhaps a Soundsmith cantilever/stylus upgrade would do the trick.

The improvements over the original would be night and day

Word of caution:
- selecting a stlus type finer than Elyptical would require extremely precise setup to get the best sound
- requires a mirror prortactor like the Best Mint Protractor
- and a very keen young eye

Or look at Soundsmith cartridges - lots to choose from and there quite a varied budget range

https://www.sound-smith.com

I have a SS modified Denon DL103 with the Optimized Contour Contact Line stylus and Ruby cantilever - it is superb.

BTW - it appears we have similar tastes in music
- my Dire Straights 150 gm sounds incredible - never realized how much detail I was missing until my cart got the SS treatment
- Diana Krall - pretty much all her recordings are superbly engineed and now sound incredible
 
Hope that helps - Steve
@williewonka , 

Thanks, that’s an avenue I’m going to look at. It’s always good to have a backup. 

As it is, the Hana is checking all the boxes after only 4 hrs.

mdr