MC suggestions

@roberjerman

I know very well what kind of cartridges DS Audio produces.
Since the DS-W1 was introduced, I have DS Audio in my
system comparing with the top level of MCs.

I would rate e.g. the DS-002 higher than a Lyra Atlas SL.
For half the price including a phono stage...

Air Tight PC 7 detailed and lots of air. Very stiff. you might have to add weight.Best for classical.
Clearaudio Stradavari V2 Great tracker, very dynamic. Great for Jazz and Rock.
Ortofon Cadenza Gold. Great tracker, Neutral(accurate) Most like the Grado here. Sounds good with any thing.
Lyra Delos most like the Clearaudio not quite as dynamic maybe a little more detailed.
I had a Grado Statement for 10 years. For me to run a cartridge that long is severely atypical. It's little wires finally let go. I will surely get another at some point

@mijostyn thank you. I still haven’t received the cart. Lots of air and detail sounds good to me. Should be a good match to my sys. In theory anyway. Channel balance within .5db is really appealing as well as I’m sensitive to channel imbalances. Should be just as my semester is over and a nice reward to myself. 

Fourwnds I wish I could have afforded a cartridge that good at your age. Actually there were no cartridges that good then! Just get the HI FI News test record. It has tracks for both lateral and vertical resonance. For the PC 7 just add weight until you get the resonance down between 8 and 12 Hz. The lower in that range the better. You can add weight with longer screws putting nuts on the screw before you screw them in so the nuts are on top of the head shell (dorky looking) or you can get cartridge weights which are pads the fit under the cartridge(better looking.) You can adjust the weight by sheering off the pads at the corners with heavy scissors. Getting this right has a big payback in bass and tracking ability.

Well, the cart has been in the system now for a couple a days.  It took its sweet time getting here from Japan.  But definitely worth it.  Given its not insignificant price I was having some serious anxiety about potential buyers remorse.  I really was putting the faith in my dealer to understand my system and where I wanted to go.  I am VERY thrilled to report the Pc7 is a substantial improvement and all I could ask for!  The transparency and immediacy is on par with the London Decca Jubilee, but with a much wider and enveloping soundstage. Lots of air and detail. Most importantly I am connecting with the feeling of the music so much more.  This is happening because of a new recognition of the dynamics I feel did not get completely conveyed prior.  Other myriad subtle but necessary instrumental and production details in the grooves pulling me in as well.  Its not dry or thin even running it at 47k, its both musical and detailed.  It took a little experimentation but I now feel I understand the draw of the MC in audio land that I previously chalked up to hype.  It was super easy to mount.  In fact I haven't even bothered to use my Feikert protractor yet.  I did a rough set up and did a needle drop to see if all was ok and to check to hear about tonality and I haven't stopped listening. I was two records in when it dawned on me I was still at 47k.  I'm not sure what that says about my system(on the warmer side I think) but after more records and listening I feel I'm good right here.  Tracking at 2 grams no distortion and tracks right on through previously congested passages with no collapse of image or delineation of instrumentation.  Bass is my only niggly critique, with a bit of overshoot, but I think its coming along actually.  This seems like it could be just recording dependent right now but I don't know for sure. Or maybe an alignment issue perhaps. Thanks and I hope this helps someone.  My system description is still the same with Anti-Cable 3.1 and ArtAudio IC3se interconnect the only changes I believe in quite awhile.  Oh I did add some Aurios into the rig as well, under turntable platform at moment.  But I think they'll go back under amp eventually.