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MC Cartridge Ideas

I'am looking to get a low output cartridge and need your advise and recommendations on which ones to research.
The Price Range is $2000-$4000.
The Sound I'am after is excellent detail retrieval (match digital) with pin point and spatial imaging and most important of all Huge Bass (sub bass slam and low extension)

I know its a hard question as most will recommend one or the other as audiophile we don't necessary keep swapping cartridges, but may be you are an audio dealer - Ideally you would be selling 20-50 cartridges and a few in my price range. Based on my Sound Characteristics you might be able to say Cartridge A is $2500 and surpassed Cartridge B at $4500 in the area of detail retrieval but not with Sound stage.

That's sort of what I'am hoping to achieve from this exercise, some in depth advise.
As with everyone I would like to keep the spend low but really go to the upper extreme its definitely worth it compared to the offerings at the opposite end.
128x128kunalraiker
kunalraiker's avatar
kunalraiker OP
45 posts
 
For high resolution modern sound
Usual suspects:

Lyra
ZYX
Shelter
VdH
Ortofon

or

Dynavector
Phasemation
Benz

there are more ...

but how anyone can tell you what you will like ?

Also you did not tell us what's your tonearm and phonostage ?
The Phonostage is Parasound JC3 and The Tonearm is Opera Consonance T1288
http://www.opera-consonance.com/products/tonearm/T988_T1288.htm
kunalraiker's avatar
kunalraiker OP
45 posts
 
My present go-to recommendation for cartridge questions, is to call Soundsmith with your system info and budget, and listen very carefully. You will get a quality US made product with a reasonable stylus
replacement cost and spectacular imaging.
I will ask Soundsmoth, but would prefer something Japanese.
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
I recently acquired a Lyra Kleos and it checks all your boxes.  I'm blown away by it.  American designed...Japanese built.  Squarely within your budget.
kunalraiker's avatar
kunalraiker OP
45 posts
 

I recently acquired a Lyra Kleos and it checks all your boxes. I'm blown away by it. American designed...Japanese built.
Squarely within your budget.
What did you upgrade from?
Also what other cartridges were you researching at the time.

 Ok have been offered the Kleos SL for a good price from a dealer but haven’t decided.
Also being offered the Dynavector Kiatora.
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
I had both a DV XX-2 MKII and Hana ML before getting the Lyra Kleos. The Lyra was a massive upgrade from both.  I really bought it opportunistically as I tripped over a really good deal and pulled the trigger quickly.  I wasn't truly looking at the time.  Somewhat impulsive but no regrets.
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