2. analog
  3. 165614-1614

Cartridge recommendation around $2k?

I'm ready to invest in a new cartridge having become tired of the quirks of my Decca Super Gold. Previously I've owned a Delos and I'm currently testing out a highly upgraded DL103R. Really like vocals and strings with the DL103 but dynamics and soundstaging are lacking. I listen to all kinds of music, except rock. Lots of jazz and blues but also tons of psych and hip hop/electronica. Soundtracks and Latin music too. Nothing dense though, if that makes sense. The Delos was a good cartridge at it's original release price, less so at $2,000. Arm is a unipivot, VPI Fatboy. Anyone have a somewhat versatile cartridge to recommend?
dhcod
dhcod OP
710 posts
 
@Dover- I'm actually very happy with the arm. No bass issues. I've mounted cartridges I can't afford on it and I was blown away by how balanced and transparent this arm sounds compared to many high priced arms I've used in the past. People are squeamish about Uni's for some reason. I've always preferred them. We all hear differently.

Thanks for the advice re: matching with the Lamm
tablejockey
3,940 posts
 
 "Thanks for the Kiseki Blue suggestion. I'll check that one out."

dhcod-
better cross that one out too.  It's .4mv.  A smidge less than the ART9 XI@ .5mv

Someone with more knowledge can chime in regarding 58db being enough for  .5miilivolts. I've

   "You wil never get ripsnorting bass out of that unipivot. " 
False statement of the day.
dhcod OP
710 posts
 
Hmm, I just read that .5 is good down to 56db so I'm guessing that the XI and the Blue would work now that I'm researching it more carefully. It also depends on the cleanliness of the gain in the preamp and I'm pretty good there. Maybe I'll just give the XI a try since it's so beloved.
fjn04
1,561 posts
 
I have the Charisma Audio version of the Denon 103. I believe Sound Smith has their own (very similar) version. I find it quite competent with macro-dynamics and slam. Jumping up to 2K, I like both the Air Tight PC7 and EMT TSD 15 and 75. I find the EMT (on my Kuzma arm) to hold the edge over the PC-7 when it comes to dynamics. I think the other poster hit it right on when he mentioned the Lamm likes to see more output. I think 0.6mv to really unleash the Lamm. . Funny I had the Lamm and think it was very good. I kick myself for not trying a higher than 0.3 mv cart on it. Neither my Koetsu or Benz had enough output for the 57.5 db of gain the Lamm offered. Too bad I didn't try a good SUT, which I hadn’t become aware of until years later.
dhcod OP
710 posts
 
Yeah, that's the other thing, and I think you are confirming it. Maybe I just need to try the Auditorium 23 SUT before I venture into new cartridges? I've been trying to avoid it because of aesthetic issues. I'm really tight on space and another component, even a small one, is tricky.

More to discover