Ortofon Cadenza Black vs. Bronze

I listened to both and bought the Bronze for my Reed 3P 12. I go back and forth. There are times I love it and times I think it sounds a bit too laid back and smooth. On my second deck with Reed 3P arm (see my profile if you wish) I have a Lyra Etna Lamda mounted and before that I had a VdH Crimson Strad XGW mounted. So in some ways the "poor" Cadenza faces unfair competition. The more expensive cartridges have better soundstage depth, width, and imaging and more importantly, better drive and detail. More defined low bass too. 
I will say this-if you talk to industry veterans and particularly those who demonstrate analogue gear at audio shows (remember those?), the Cadenza Bronze is a favorite. Perhaps in show conditions there is something about the easy-going nature of the Bronze that helps tame a small room. 
The Bronze is like an affable hound dog whereas the Black is like a Doberman. 

I have both the Black and the Bronze. I like both, but if forced to choose, I would pick the Bronze. The Black is more neutral and more detailed, though still reasonably warm and musical. The Bronze is just a shade less detailed but with a slight tonal sweetness which the Black does not possess.

It also depends on the turntable and arm. On my Kuzma Stabi Ref with 4 Point (now sold) - which was very neutral to the point of blandness - I found the Black sounded a little too restrained. But on a turntable and arm with more character - such as my PTP Solid 9 with Audio Origami PU7 - the Black sounded superb. The Bronze sounded great on any combination, and will sound better on a wider variety of turntables and arms.

I therefore think that the Bronze is a safer choice, and a great sounding cartridge. It is actually closer in sound the Windfeld Ti (which I also have) than the Black, since the WIndfeld also has a richer tonal signature.

Etna Lamda is rarified air indeed. Brother in law has a Bronze, indeed an excellent sonic value.

My friend has a Black through a JC3+ to a Pass 20.7,  sounds great.

Can’t compare to the Bronze

Love my Black on a Vector 4 Basis tonearm and table.  It is as good or better than my Transfiguration Proteus which was no slouch.

As fsonicsmith mentioned the Bronze is a show favorite, it was used by several exhibitors at the CAF multiple years.  Sounded very nice to me in show conditions.