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Cartridge upgrade?

Hi I’m considering either upgrading to the Kelisi Purple Heart or to the Hana Umami. Currently running the Hana SL. I’ve been listening to the SL for a year now. It’s great, I really like it but would like to upgrade soon. I listen to a pretty big range of music. Folk, rock, jazz, electronic, some classical but not much. My question is which one, and am I going overkill with a $3-4k cartridge given my tone arm/tt? I’m pretty happy with the sound I’m getting currently but want to stay away from a cartridge that’s too forward sounding. I love the high end detail I’m getting from the diamond tweeters of my B&W 805d3’s but feel it can get a little bright at times. 
Here’s the rest of my set up:

Cartridge: Hana SL
Turntable: Clearaudio Concept w/ magnetic bering tone arm
Rogue Cronus Magnum II integrated
Herron Audio VTPH-2A phono stage
B&W 805D3 speakers
REL S/510 & T/5i subs 
Kimber speaker cables and interconnects

Thanks! This place is great!

paulgardner
tablejockey
4,081 posts
 
You have a solid setup.

Consider putting the Audio Technica ART9 on your radar.
There are enough archived threads to give you an impression it has characteristics of the uber cart$.

Like big_greg, I have used the Kiseki Blue and it’s a wonderful cart, but it’s $2k+ and I used the ART9 before that. The ART9 is on level playing ground with the Blue for half the price-subjectively, of course.

Your phonostage will handle the lower output .2mv ART9,which may have a smidge more refinement over the .5mv model.
paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
@dover Thanks. Yeah I’ll look into Soundsmith too
paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
@tablejockey cool. Thanks, I’ll look at the blue and the ART9
petg60
1,486 posts
 
Paul,
i would suggest with your budget to stretch your search for a better TT. That would give you much more in sound quality than upgrading the cartridge.
It will cost you less in the long run.

G


big_greg
6,726 posts
 
@paulgardner I really wanted to like the Concept.  It is a nice looking table and really easy to operate, but it didn't last long in my system.  I had a Clearaudio Emotion and liked that more, but it was kind of fussy.

There is a seller here on Audiogon (kron) that has the Kiseki Blue N.S. at a much reduced price, however it is "grey market", so no warranty.  That's where I bought mine.  He has over 2,000 transactions and 100% feedback.
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