Is a Ortofon Black a step down from a Pickering XSV 3000

I can say that a good cartridge is a good cartridge i would suggest finding a good dealer that you can try different cartridges with and see what you do and dont like it will take some time and effort but the reward will be much greater than wondering.

NOW, but you guys always referring to your faulty memories from the 70's, 80's. How can you even remember the sound of a cartridge you tried about 40 years ago ??

Well, their memories are probably more reliable than taking advice from someone promoting vintage cartridges on audiogon who conicidentally happens to have a business buying clapped out vintage cartridges from Japan and reselling them on eBay etc.

ll I have to say is I have listened to a lot of cartridges in my day and the Pickering XSV 3000 is still on my table.  To me, that says a lot.  Its why I started this thread.  I know the Ortofon Black is a very well known MM cartridge and I have heard it a few times.  It does not have the same smooth sound of the Pickering.  In fact, the Pickering does remind me more of Koetsu cartridge sound than the Ortofon.  I remember the Ortofon Black being a very detailed MM cartridge.  Thats what I remember.  Other than MC cartridges, what cartridge can compare for the money?  Thats the question.  maybe the Hana?

If you like what you have, stick with it.
Just make sure you buy a lot of styli for it since older styli gets more & more difficult to find.

@tzh21y 
Sounds like you should just find the best stylus replacement you can for the Pickering - worthwhile even it ends up as a backup.

I'm personally not impressed by the Hana's - if I was going budget I really like the Audiiotechnica AT33PTG - a friend ran it on his TW Acustik Raven/Helius combo and it was very musical. I prefer the microcline/microscanner stylus profile to the shibata - its very transparent, but the shibata can be a little brittle in some instances.
I would back this cartridge over the Ortofon Black any time.

To give you context my main go to cartridges include Dynavector Nova 13D (with custom Dynavector rebuild), Ikeda kiwame, Koetsu Black and I can listen to the AT33PTG and be perfectly happy.

With my Nagaoka MM its great but it just doesn't engage me.