SPU People: I love my Royal N. Which SPU will I like even better?

Except what give me listening pleasure and what gives you listening pleasure are quite possibly two very different things. There aren’t a ton of real ice cream flavors but definitely more than one.

Did the 95 live up to your hopes for it?

I’ve also fallen for the SPU Royal N but not heard any other SPUs. I have a heavy arm with removable headshell on the way to explore further.

Nope it didn't. I'm sort of going back in time now and I'm enamored with the non SPU SL15 and the SPU-TE with the built in transformer. It's tough, once you hear the tone these cartridges produce, to enjoy to the more sterile A95. The Royal N is still closer to those vintage carts but still has the more modern dynamics. I'm in a "less is more" phase I think.

I had a Transfiguration Proteus before the Royal N and bought the Royal N because I expected it to be so different from the Proteus that I wouldn’t forever be comparing unfavourably, as I would had I gone back to my DV17D3. I ended up preferring the Royal N to the Proteus. When I eventually came to get the Proteus rebuilt I was offered an Ogura OA as originally fitted or two other profiles, one of which was a Gyger S (120/6).The Ogura would have been the sensible choice with regard to potential resale value but I opted for the Gyger on the back of what I was hearing from the similar Replicant 100 (100/5) and I can’t say I regret the choice. The Royal N has it on tone but the Gyger Proteus isn’t so far behind and has leading edge detail that the Royal N rounds off, going back will be the decider. Both dig out the emotional content from the music rather well.

Interesting. Which SUT do you use with the Royal N?