@tablejockey, it sure seems to be that way. Some people even use cactus spines:-)
fjn04, a lot depends on the phono stage. The MSL cartridges have very low internal impedances. Used with a transimpedance or current mode phono stages there are significant advantages. I personally like the MSL cartridges much better than Koetsu's which I do not think deserve the mythical status they have.
With a standard phono stage I personally think you are better off with a high output moving iron design such as a Grado or Soundsmith. They have much better signal to noise ratios and should track better due to their very low moving masses. This will also give them better high frequency performance. They should also be more durable in the long run. Since the coils are fixed the coil wires are not being continuously flexed and work hardened.
@jperry , I think the right answer to Lewm's question is, "I do not know for sure." What you hear depends more on you than the cartridge. I think what lewm is getting at is that good cartridges sound very much alike. The differences can be so minor that they are not discernable by casual methods. While speakers as an example can be vastly different and the variance can be drastic with such variables as room acoustics.
I prefer using the term "balanced" rather than "neutral." The best systems do not call attention to themselves. Nothing should stand out. Individual instruments should float in space and have size and depth. Turn the treble up just a few dB and the illusion of individual cymbals disappears. Disturbing that balance in any way corrupts the illusion that you are listening to individual sound sources and not a sound system.
fjn04, a lot depends on the phono stage. The MSL cartridges have very low internal impedances. Used with a transimpedance or current mode phono stages there are significant advantages. I personally like the MSL cartridges much better than Koetsu's which I do not think deserve the mythical status they have.
With a standard phono stage I personally think you are better off with a high output moving iron design such as a Grado or Soundsmith. They have much better signal to noise ratios and should track better due to their very low moving masses. This will also give them better high frequency performance. They should also be more durable in the long run. Since the coils are fixed the coil wires are not being continuously flexed and work hardened.
@jperry , I think the right answer to Lewm's question is, "I do not know for sure." What you hear depends more on you than the cartridge. I think what lewm is getting at is that good cartridges sound very much alike. The differences can be so minor that they are not discernable by casual methods. While speakers as an example can be vastly different and the variance can be drastic with such variables as room acoustics.
I prefer using the term "balanced" rather than "neutral." The best systems do not call attention to themselves. Nothing should stand out. Individual instruments should float in space and have size and depth. Turn the treble up just a few dB and the illusion of individual cymbals disappears. Disturbing that balance in any way corrupts the illusion that you are listening to individual sound sources and not a sound system.