Purple Heart = Purple Rain?

@tommypenngotti I didn't ask Kron, but assumed "grey market".  

I recently picked up a Soundsmith Aida II and really like it.  I like the people behind it too.  I bought mine second hand and it didn't have a stylus guard.  I contacted Soundsmith to see if I could buy one and they sent me one free.

Tommy, you would shock to hear how little difference there is between a $160 cartridge and a $2000 cartridge. Between the $2000 cartridge and the $5000 cartridge there is even less. The best policy is to stay away from the cottage manufacturers and stick with the larger better funded ones. Their QC is usually much better. I examine each cartridge under magnification and I can say that Ortofon, Clearaudio, Soundsmith, Audio Technica and Lyra make precision products and I can not imagine that you would go wrong with any of them. Between these companies there is a good mix of MC, MM and MI cartridges, something to suit everyone. 

"you would shock to hear how little difference there is between a $160 cartridge and a $2000 cartridge. Between the $2000 cartridge and the $5000 cartridge there is even less."

Mijostyn's observation  is pretty much how my ears hear top of the food chain carts. You start squinting your eyes to hear the differences. Keeping that perspective in mind, the ART9 offers much of what the "super carts" do. 

I'm surprised how well a  $400 Soundsmith Otello sounds on my VPI.
It's clearly not the $10K Strain gauge, but having a solid system(which you do), will play a lot of great $1-2K carts without you wondering if you're missing something.

@tablejockey 
thanks so much , this helps...I have had my eye on the AT ART-9 for quite a while ...and I'm hesitant to do a trade in deal with Ortofon due to the Quintet Black crapping out after 23 months...

I noticed Audio Technica original ART-9 discontinued & they have (2) new ones AT-ART9XI Dual moving Coil / and ART9XA  non magnetic core ....not sure what I should do there 🤷🏻‍♂️

"I noticed Audio Technica original ART-9 discontinued & they have (2) new ones AT-ART9XI Dual moving Coil / and ART9XA non magnetic core ....not sure what I should do there 🤷🏻‍♂️ "

Not the best representation, but it gives you an idea of difference between the 3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QA1jw5Pj7Y&feature=youtu.be

Personally, If I had 65+db of gain, I would go with the XA, after having had 2 of first version. To my ears, the XA seems to have a subtle "air" to the tone of the overall presentation which I find pleasing.