I normally don't post much on the Gon (no particular reason just not used to it), but Raul messaged me on my zero distortion blog and pointed me to this thread. reading the thread he already seems to have taken one of my statements out of context (DaVa ticks most of the boxes) and dismissed me as having heard the frequency response anomaly and not realized it.
In his message he pointed out that CS Port is an LT and so will be different. There was no mention there that the Etsuro was also on the NVS with a pivot. (nor did he take into account that I have recently, over the past few months, written more on linear trackers than anyone/most on other forums, including a detailed write up on my blog on Vyger).
He did not take into account my previous exposure with DaVa. Also, there is a detailed thread on WBF from other users if you want other data points
From what I understand Raul likes Allaerts. I do too. Great cart. DaVa is better. Raul in this thread recommended another user the Top Wing Blue Dragon. The top wing red sparrow, when done right, is my favorite cart along with the DaVa, but it usually sounds wrong in many systems, and after trying various arms, we only found it to sing with linear trackers (Vyger and Bergmann) consistently. Schroder CB, SME V, SME 3012r, Vertere, did not work well with it making it sound thin and lacking midbass. There are good reports from other users on Thales Statement. The only pivot I have heard a positive report on is Graham, but Thales and Graham I have not heard myself. Fremer's review on the SAT summarizes the attributes pretty well, and the review mentions it will not work with certain phonos. Moreover, it works for acoustic music mainly (which is fine for me) but DaVa works for all.
Finally, the cost to experiment - to buy DaVa and to sell it off if it does not work for you, is the best equation across cartridges.
