MM, MC, or MI cartridge

What about moving iron cartridges??

I have always been interested in the legendary London Decca Reference cart.

I currently use a Lyra Atlas SL. Hard to imagine a $5250 London beats the $13K Lyra.

But the. London reviews all say it produces “scary real”.

Anyone have experience with one?

Dear rauliruegas,

I understand your point. Analog is analog, and digital is digital and never the twain shall meet. Each has its own unique character.
However, I believe there are SOME  traits that can be validly compared to each other.  
I totally agree that music is the essential thing, and I have written extensively about that.  
But, this is still a hobby that we  can have some fun with if we don’t get too carried away (which is easy to do.)

 

Inna,

Actually I was not referring to the quietness of digital.  On my set the digital format has a certain clarity that the analog does not.  Maybe rauliruegas is right and that type of clarity  is uniquely a digital trait, but I’m hoping to get it with the new cartridge.

@rauliruegas

You bring up an interesting point. Does analog and digital sound actually have a different sound? A decade ago, I would have said yes. Today I have to say no… or it is a philosophical question. My analog and digital sound the same. When digital sounded bad, it was the immaturity of the rendering electronics. 

My Analog end and digital end sound the same because I have selected equipment that renders them the same. I have all Audio Research equipment, in particular the Phono Stage and DAC… I chose a cartridge that was natural and musical (Koetsu Rosewood Signature) and a streamer that was outstanding and natural (Aurender W20SE).

So they sound the same. You cannot separate the rendering mechanism from the source. So, while you can easily say vinyl trumps MP3… because of the huge imbalance in innate resolution. If you consider digital and analog in say the less than $500,000 system you can have them the same. In the $500K system you are likely to have to spend more on digital… but only maybe 20% to equal. But I am not trying to get into details. The issue is that the sound is almost all about rendering, not about the source.

Your potential choice is a great choice

the Sutherland 20/20 is dead silent which

is important

Been playing a Lyra Delos through it for 2 years

with great success

Good luck Willy-T