Analog Upgrade itch

@eddiechanghk sounds like you've made some excellent choices and had the benefit of listening to a lot of different gear. Hope you are loving your Stabi R.  I will be receiving mine at the beginning of February. Excited to have two tonearms mounted on the same table.  Still using my Vibraplane as well. 

Lots of vintage arms are supposed to match nicely with SPU.  Schick, Fidelity Research to name a couple.

@karl_desch thanks , the StabiR + 4pt 11 is an upgrade to me, is worth every penny … now my itch goes to which cartridge I should try next 😂 : DS optical or SPU (I know they are very different) 

If the DS Optical Generator is available, the buying into the DS Audio Cartridge Line is not too expensive.

I have listened to DS Audio Cartridges and SPU's in very different systems, I recollect the SPU on all systems it has been encountered, as a Rich Presenting Cart' and the perceived level is more than I am liking on the systems it has been heard used in.

I have only heard from my recollections a DS Audio 'Upper Range' Cart used on one system that I am quite familiar with, I have no recollections of detecting anything not to like about the Cart' in use. I do recollect follow up MC Cart's were more favourable and noticeably more of a attraction.

These Demo's are in non-owned systems and for were a short duration, any comments are from a recollection of a initial impression that has been made.   

@pindac thank you and it sounds very in consistent with what I heard from other audiophilies’ comment. DS “nothing wrong but nothing attractive” my personal but very limited experience is they are very detailed with exceptionally low noise floor.

Which makes me more eager to toy with a “high end” SPU than an optical cartridge for the moment.  

 

This is not a criticism, just a observation of a trait that has been shared about your latest Phonostage acquisition. In Your Post it is stated,

" overall means it’s not overly coloured like some tube phonos but it has the density and 3-D holographic quality with excellent tonal balance and micro dynamics like some European phonos 2x the price "

I use Tube Designs that are towards the Lean Side in their presentation, I can add an increased Rich Tone through a use of a SUT. I use a Cart' that works with maintaining this attractive trait.

I can add a overbearingly Rich Tone by using a owned LOMC through the MM Input, it is certainly not to my taste, but is a achievable experience, with the Volume Maxxed Out . 

I'm confident the SPU is able to make the inherent Rich Tone become quiet noticeable, is this the desired outcome, to add Richness to a Phon' that is selected for it not having a too Rich Trait in how it presents.

I would think a Cart' that enhances the trait that caught your attention might be a alternative way to think about marrying a Cart'>Phon.