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Da Benz?

Greetings,

If anyone would care to recommend a cartridge for the setup below I’d greatly appreciate it! Thinking about a Benz Micro wood (but don’t know if it should be low, medium, or high output version). Also considering a Grado but am open to other suggestions. Looking to be  in the $1k – $2k price range.

Setup:

    Sota STAR TT

    SME IV Arm

    Conrad Johnson EF1 Phono Stage

    Conrad Johnson Premier 16 LS Pre

    Conrad Johnson Premier 12 Mono Blocks

    Vandersteen Wood Quatro Signature Speakers

    Vandenhul Tea Track Bi-wire

    Stealth PGS IC’s

Prefer a warm and relaxed sound but with good articulation.

Music tastes are classical, soft jazz (Diana Krall, Holly Cole, etc.), and classic rock.

Thank you!

Randy


rbschauman
tablejockey
3,793 posts
 
I'm sure you'll get plenty of recommendations. Consider adding the Audio Technica ART9@$1K to the list. It does all the "audiophile"

Do a search, plenty of threads here, and the other forums.

Everyone's "right" is different, so cart selection,even with all the research, becomes a leap of faith.

I've been pleased with the ART9 for several years, and don't see reason to upgrade until I upgrade my table(VPI Classic)
lostbears's avatar
lostbears
538 posts
 

 I am not that familiar with your table or phono preamp so it is hard for me to say. I have a ClearAudio Innovation Wood table with Universal arm and LOMC Benz Wood cart. My phono preamp is an ARC Ref Phono 2se.

The Benz Wood is a really nice sounding cart. A little on the warm side. I have had mine for a few years now and am very happy with it. I wasn't sure Benz was still making the Wood. I know they discontinued a number of models a while back so they could focus on the higher end carts. Benz was so backed up that they were getting hard to find.


invictus005
597 posts
 
I would look into MM/MI cartridges if you want something that sounds more like original tape. From current production, I recommend:

1.) Ortofon 2M Black
2.) Audio Technica VM760SLC, VM750SH, VM740ML
3.) Nagaoka MP-500, MP-300

Not all, but most MC cartridges sound bleached out and unengaging in the midrange and have over exaggerated treble. Making them sound lean and giving a false sense of dynamics and detail.

For example, I recently listened to a Lyra Atlas and it was like listening to a special effects show. It was ridiculous. There was no real music coming out, just a bizarre bastardization.
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,497 posts
 
If you like warm and relaxed I don’t think you will go wrong with a Grado. It is also a good match with the SME tonearm. That Conrad-Johnson has three gain settings to match any cartridge you decide on !  
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