Cartridge recommendation for classical listening

Atmasphere,

 I’ve made the decision to pull the plug on the Sumiko and go with the Clear Audio.  We’ll see if the problem remains.
Thank you for your suggestions.

Dear @rvpiano : """ Based on the bad opinion of the Sumiko stated here.... """

first than all I do not seen a bad valid opinion in this thread and at the end the main and more important opinion is the one coming from you and this is what you posted:

"" But it works wonderfully on my system. It does really sing..."""

and you followed with this other post:

""" It is sounding even better. Along with the definition and detail has come a sweetness and warmth I didn’t expect. Very happy with it! """


and now you are thinking to return it. Are you seriously?

Not all audiophiles can post cartridge information experiences as the ones you had.
Who cares other person opinions? or whom are those other persons?

Cantilever fragility?, not really. VdH Colibri or the Dyna XV-1 or EMT ones comes with the same type of " cantilever fragility " and these cartridges stays in a 3.5K-7K price range and owners are really satisfied with, including me. The Virtuoso comes with almost that " cantilever fragility " too. But it's up toyou that is the person who has to live with.

There is no perfect audio items. 

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

Raul,

You are so right!!!
MY opinion is the one that counts.
 I admit, in the first couple of days,  I got “carried away” with the first flush of hearing something better than I owned previously, and I had to share it.
However, upon extensive listening, reality set in and I began to hear anomalies that bothered me, such as, the beauty diminishing as I turned the volume up.
Yes, in certain parameters it’s a wonderful cartridge. And I stand by my rave.
But, could I live with it in a larger variety of music where soaring climaxes are important.  In many cases, no. It became shrill. Not always, I have to admit, but enough to realize that a large part of my collection would be unlistenable if I kept it.
I need a more forgiving cartridge, even if it’s not quite the ultimate in revealing.
In other words, a real world cartridge that i can enjoy as a music lover, not just an audiophile.
Also, i read many Audiogoners who complained they had damaged or destroyed it due to it’s precarious design. Many more complaints than raves.
 The combination of those two factors persuaded me it would be better to look elsewhere. 

I don’t think i can use a moving coil, because the output level of my vintage Conrad-Johnson preamp is Low and designed for moving magnet.

Many people just missed the point that you phono stage is MM only.

When dealer can swap cartridge with no loss for the buyer it is nice. They got their margin anyway and you must be happy after all. Give it a try and get Virtuoso instead of HOMC Sumiko, at least Virtuoso is MM and your phono stage is MM only (47k Ohm).

If you have to choose between those two cartridges from your dealer then get Virtuoso and tell us about your experience with this MM after your experience with HOMC.

Must be interesting process. 

I probably shouldn’t be writing this, but as I’m listening to the Sumiko while waiting for the Clear Audio to arrive,  it sure sounds good on the best produced records.  It’s just that the ordinary discs, which make up the bulk of my some 3000 records, don't sounds so wonderful.