Cartridge Opinions - Sorry


Yeah, another dumb "what's your opinion on these cartridges" thread. Back in the late 80's we had dealers where you could listen to the stuff.

So anyhow I have a Linn LP12 with Ittok arm and a 30 year old Audioquest B200L cartridge. I'm running it through the phono stage of a Jeff Rowland Coherence One into a Spectral DMA90 through a set of Kef R300's.

I prefer a little more laid back sound (err on the side of forgiving instead of fatiguing) but I like a lot of upper end detail, precise soundstaging, air, etc.

So far I'm considering an Ortofon Quintet S Black, Hana SL or a Benz wood - something at or below the $1k level.

I'd love to hear any opinions, suggestions, and experiences with those cartridges or others in the price range. I could possibly go higher if there is something out there that really shines for less than $1,500.

Thanks.


klooker
And just what are those very good reasons rauliruegas.
First of all everything you have said is anecdotal. Ralph's opinion of how the Grado sounded is also anecdotal. His opinion on how a tonearm should be set up is not. Tonearms and cartridges are very simple devices. I bet even you could design a moving coil cartridge if you put your mind to it. If you want a good cartridge you have to get yourself a Jan Jallaerts MC2 Formula 1. It easily out performs any cartridge ever made but you'd better have a very quiet phono stage. I can easily make the Formula 1 sound awful. Just put it in the wrong tonearm and set it up like most casual users. I am sure the Grado sounds better in Ralph's Triplanar set up as well as I know Ralph can. From what I have read so for I would rather have Ralph set up my turntable than you. 
You are always entitled to your opinions. I just wish you wouldn't try to shove them down everyone else throat's. It seems you have been a bit more forceful lately. What is stressing you out?
Firstly, it is rookie and not roockie.

So this is a relevant statement to this thread? Not at all.
 the Denon 103 is a pretty nice cartridge for the money.  Its not perfect but it does many things very well sounding very natural on the right tonearm.
mijostyn
... If you want a good cartridge you have to get yourself a Jan Jallaerts MC2 Formula 1. It easily out performs any cartridge ever made ...
Will you please tell us what makes this phono cartridge so outstanding? What pickup arm have you used it in?
 the Denon 103 is a pretty nice cartridge for the money.  Its not perfect but it does many things very well sounding very natural on the right tonearm.


There are many MM cartridge for nearly the same price with much better overall sound quality of any tonearm. 

The price of Denon is not the end, because there must be a SUT or MC phono stage to handle LOMC and super heavy tonearm. So the actual price is Denon + SUT or MC Phono. In this combination it is not cheap at all.