opinions on favorite cartridge

So just to get this straight - you are asking for people to tell you which cartridge people like best from the list of cartridges you own. There are two major flaws with this question -

* Listener preference and bias will vary wildly and may or may not be anywhere near your own preferences

* An analog system is the sum of its parts. Cartridge, arm, table, phono, and setup. Change one of these variables, and the whole deal is off.

Most of the people on the forum have the goal of assembling a system with the highest possible audio potential. (with respect to their own biases). If you have this goal, then you need to do 2 things:

1. Upgrade your phono stage. I've owned the PS Audio and borrowed the Sim. The Sim is better than the PS in my experience. The phono stage is arguably the most important in the analog system, and you have a large gap in potential here between what you have and higher end, better sounding phonos.

2. Sell all your mid tier cartridges, and buy 1 or 2 really nice ones. The 309 is a good arm and gives you quite a bit of flexibility. If it were me, I might consider a Lyra Delos, Dynavector XX2, or the best benz or Ortofon I could get for $2k or so.

If, on the other hand, you just like to tweak and play around with stuff - then keep up what you're doing

Second the Lyra Delos

I guess I am not asking the question so that someone else can make the decision for me as to what to keep and listen too. I am asking the question just for general knowledge sake, and perhaps to help other members who might be considering any of the cartridges mentioned.

I have Marakanetz telling me the GCPH is good enough for any cartidge available, and Goatwuss telling me there is a large gap between the GCPH and a decent sounding phono preamp.

I will probably buy one or two higher end cartridges next, possibly a Cadenza Black or Dyna Rua II or Lyra Delos. I do agree that if you just want to buy and forget, you are better off getting the best you can afford up front. There is no cost saving to making small upgrades along the way. It may be fun, but not economically efficient.

Goatwuss, what phono preamp would you recommend. The Aesthetix has piqued my interest, with its remote, balanced inputs and external loading options.

You're bound to receive a very wide range of responses
in analog in particular synergy is everything, so what dazzles one of us may well be a pure anxiety listening experience for you with your system in your listening room.

I like to dig around in the Vinyl Asylum Archive to get a range of opinions and from looking at the individuals systems and knowing their relative experience and at times listening tastes I can get a good generalized assessment of a cartridges relative virtues and vices.
But the just going with what the majority likes you might as well
get out the dart board.

Manitunic, The PS Audio is a good contender at its $1000 price, and has quite a bit of flexibility with its options, but there are much better sounding phono stages out there.

I owned the GCPH and borrowed a ASR Mini Basis Exclusive to compare with, and it was night and day - a significantly bigger difference than when I compared a couple $300 -$500 carts to some $1500 - $2000 carts. So at the ~$2900 I would recommend looking into that.

I'm sure the full ASR Basis stage is better, but much more expensive.

Another stage that I haven't personally heard but people seem to like is the Ayre.

I'm sure Aesthetix is quite good too - I haven't heard them though.

Maybe bring a couple home to compare?