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Class "A" phono cartridge discussion.

I would like to have a discussion about what cartridges are class A. Stereophile has their list but I can't help thinking there is probably a lot left out.

Last year I traded my Delos for a used EMT TSD15 because the TSD 15 was listed as class A in Stereophile. I love the TSD 15. It is the best cartridge I have heard. But I will probably have to re tip it soon. $1250 for a re tip is expensive but I will be able to do it when I have to. Moving to anything else from here is just too cost prohibitive. Three to ten thousand for a class A cartridge is just probably not going to happen. Although Miyajima sounds enticing to me. Maybe some day. The funny thing about the TSD 15 is it has been around for decades and I'd never really heard much about it until recently.

 I'm curious if there are other classic cartridges that are class A that can be had for less than the upper echelon price? Maybe we can start a list.

The funny thing about the Stereophile list is that you have to go to a $7000 Lyra, $4800 Sound smith for Class A in those brands. There are currently no ZYX, no Dynavectors and no Shelters on the list despite being popular brands.

I do have a ZYX Yatra and had a Delos. The TSD 15 is better than both. 
siranthony
lewm
13,012 posts
 
Siranthony, Do you wish to restrict this discussion to cartridges that can be purchased new and are still being produced? I still remember vividly the first time I heard a ZYX UNIverse mounted in a Durand Talea tonearm (version 1.0 of both products).  Both were new to me, but the system in which they were working was not.  I had never heard that system sound as uncannily good as it did that day.  The owner has since moved on to the more expensive Talea Telos now sporting a Benz LPS.  To my ears, the sound is not as good. It's "meh".

FWIW, I know a few guys who have heard both the ART9 and the ART7 and prefer the latter.  Output of the 7 is very low, however, and I admit this is hearsay evidence.  And the TSD15 is apparently very very good, as you suggest. In fact, I am thinking about the TSD15 for myself.
lewm
13,012 posts
 
To avoid confusion, I note that I should have said, "Durand Telos", not "Talea Telos".
melm
1,074 posts
 
"My bias slants toward AT ART9. But even though it betters most on the "A" list, it won't get there because it is too inexpensive."

Yes, and also because it has very limited distribution in the US.  But that doesn't explain the lack of reviews in Europe where it is both less expensive and more widely distributed.

But which of those on the "A" list does it better?  It would take a small fortune and a lot of effort to find out!

bpoletti
1,552 posts
 
I agree, melm.

But I also question the legitimacy of ANY reviews where less than 20 people participate in completely blind testing using a variety of DIFFERENT equipment combinations. Too many times a review is discussed with a reviewer over a manufacturer-paid-for dinner or the reviewer is a personal friend of a manufacturer and doesn’t want to damage that friendship.



r_f_sayles's avatar
r_f_sayles
872 posts
 
Would it not make most posts moot on these threads if we held ourselves to the same standards we hold audio reviewers? Just saying...

Phono cartridge performance is so subject to so many things, tonearm matching, set-up alignment, and even system synergy that it is really hard to call my experience, apples to apples, with someone else’s. I can’t tell you the amount of times I have disputed either a dealer or fellow audiophile’s alignment job. But of course, let’s assume we get all that just right.

I still really believe we should be very cautious not to make too rash or broad sweeping declarations, as they easily could flush out quite differently from kit to kit. This said, there are lots of usual suspects not listed that could be, but bargains are a much, much harder call.

I'm a Lyra fan. I've been through several. I like their high level of build quality, find them easy to align, enjoy their sonic balance, and of course the way they pull the music out of the grooves. 
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