New Transrotor TRA9 tonearm coming soon

Finally, the Transrotor TRA9 tonearm is here. I will install later this weekend, but, I have a hard decision to make. I need to decide which cartridge to use with this new tonearm first. either the new Air Tight Opus 1 or the Soundsmith Hyperion. I have the Opus 1 dialed in and just enjoy listening to music. It is mesmerizing every time I listen resulting in a few hours marathon listening session and me telling my wife to leave the food in the microwave for supper. When compared to the Opus 1, the Hyperion seems a little less refined in clarity and details, but it is no slouch....just does not compare to the sheer overall dynamism and detail retrieval of the Opus 1. Both are mounted on SME V arms and I use the same Analysis Plus Siler Apex XLR into the Aesthetix Eclipse.  

Decisions, decisions...hmmm. Link to updated pics of the tonearm. 

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/new-transrotor-tra-9-tonearm.31976/#post-780544

Now there is an arm that will gain much attention, a lot of thought has gone into the aesthetic and it really stands out in the crowd.  

Wow..i would go w Opus cartridge ;-) Let us know….enjoy the music

Jim

@pindac, 

Thank you. Yes I agree, that tonearm is quite impressive. 

@tomic601 , 

I was sort of leaning that way.. go full bore and see how it will sound with a top performing cartridge, but, I am also rationalizing that if the TRA 9 is actually a better performing arm than the SME V (my hypothesis...Mathew Bode, German reviewer says if you have an SME V, you probably don't need to change out), perhaps, the performance of the Hyperion might increase combined with the TRA9 arm. That is why I am leaning to Hyperion/TRA9 combination first. Would like to evaluate the performance and convey to others since I have both cartridges. 

I have to get past the tonearm installation procedure first, oh joy. 

I'm not sure the Opus would be any better than the Hyperion. Air Tight has another middle man in the way, the Hyperion has a lower effective mass and as good a stylus as it gets. My own  experience with Soundsmith cartridges indicates that they are very well balanced performers with exceptional bass and tracking. Detail is not lacking either. Differences with other good cartridges will be minor at best. If I were going to spend that kind of money on a cartridge it would be for a low output Atlas.