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MY SONIC LAB Cartridges

I'm considering the Hyper Eminent for my Shindo/Altec setup. The table is a Kuzma Ref 2 and Ref 313 gimbaled bearing arm. My question only has to do with sonic flavor. I was going to go with a Koetsu Rosewood Sig, but as much as I love Koetsu, I think it will be too warmly balanced in my setup. So I'm looking for a slightly more neutral sound without  dipping in to brands that tend to hyper detail the event. I think many of us know what lines they are, so let's leave specific names out of this thread. Let's just say I'm looking for a more linear, dynamic sound, yet still retaining enough body. 
fjn04
dover
2,250 posts
 
I find that the three or four of my 20 or so cartridges that I like the best tend to sound quite the same to me if I were to close my eyes. And I like to think that this is because I am drawn to their neutrality more than anything else. In other words they do everything right and the result is they are going toward a central character that I seem to prefer.Oddly enough, two of these are MC, one is an MM, and one of these is an MI cartridge. 

If you cant hear significant differences between MC & MM cartridges you must be deaf. If you think that your favourite cartrdiges do everything right - you must have low standards. There are no cartridges that do everything right regardless of price - every design is a subject to the designers own aspirations or goals and what compromises are acceptable to the designer in order to achieve their particular goals.
alan60's avatar
alan60
182 posts
 
EMT JSD's for me, very musical, neutral and use Alnico magnets.
tablejockey
3,920 posts
 
"I hope the other things you learnt during your employment in the cycling manufacturing industry were founded on fact."

Dover,
I didn’t feel the need for detailed properties. Most know it’s a few keystrokes to EXACT information.
.https://www.britannica.com/technology/duralumin
It’s still aluminum. Duralumin for a bike frame was considered...meh

fjn04 OP
1,561 posts
 
The EMT's are very good, and often overlooked. I would say the same is true with MSL, though I've yet to hear one. I think there is something with the Alnico magnet that gives a forceful drive to the proceedings which works well with Shindo. The way my TSD 75 has performed makes going a different direction feel like quite the venture. 
In fact, there is a fair chance I may cave and go with EMT again. Their new series (Noble ?) is supposed to be mega bucks, so I would likely go pure black or Lime.The EMT is not considered to be a soundstage champ, but they offer a very pleasurable listen. 
dover
2,250 posts
 
It’s still aluminum. Duralumin for a bike frame was considered...meh

Wrong again.
duraluminum is an alloy - a composition of aluminium and other elements.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alloy

Why do you think a material not used in bicycle frames should not be used in a phono cartridge - do you put treacle in your car - its runny just like oil ??
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