Cartridge Advice Please
I would love to hear from others that have traveled the same or a similar path.
My system is the previous Gen of Audio Research REF gear with the 75SE amp, 5SE preamp and 2SE phonostage with the Rega P10 playing Wilson Sophia 1. I listen to a lot of rock, R&B, blues, jazz, folk
My previous cartridge of about 2 years was a Benz Micro Wood SM. I got it new and loved it from the first record. My current cartridge is the Kiseki Purple Heart which I love even more and also have loved from the beginning. I got is used with about 200 hours, lol. So many people listen for 200 hours and then sell. I am fine with used but have always found that 150-200 hour statistic funny.
It has been about 9 months and I am happy with every other aspect of my system so would like to experiment with a new cartridge. Here are the ones that didn't work
SoundSmith Sussuro MkII ES - I liked it but with a 0.4mV rating it required my 5SE volume to be around 20 higher than the Purple Heart rated at 0.48mV. That makes no sense and it caused a buzz to be audible from my speakers between albums/tracks when listening at moderately loud volumes. Mr. Peter said there was nothing wrong with it and felt no need for me to send it in so I sold it.
Rega Aphelion 2 - This came used on my P10 and my mind was set on selling to justify the P10 upgrade so not sure I gave it the best chance but it sounded bright to me.
Rega Apheta 3 - Same deal as above, came on my previous RP10 and also sounded bright.
My initial thoughts are:
Koetsu
Lyra
Higher level Benz
Ortofon
Audio Technica ART9 fan here. Also have heard the Rega P10 Apheta setup, which I liked. Your setup unquestionably is up to the task to make any table/cart sound great. If I had a P10 and was looking for a change, I'd try the recent addition to the ART series-ART20. It's between the ART9 and the TOTL ART1000. I don't know if I'd ever consider the ART1000 for a P10, since there isn't true adjustability which it deserves. This review uses a P10 with the ART20 |
If you can listen to a MY Sonic Lab Signature Gold or the Hyper Eminent EX https://www.suncoastaudio.com/collections/my-sonic-lab/products/my-sonic-lab-signature-gold A higher level Benz is also a good option |
@dhite71 , None of the above. What you want is a My Sonic Lab cartridge, whichever one fits your budget. They all have similar motors and they all are low impedance higher output MC cartridges around 0.56 mv is typical. They are beautifully constructed and will mate perfectly with your arm. The better Ortofons are very low output. The Koetsus are low output and too stiff for your arm. You would have to add a lot of mass. The Lyra cartridges would work fine but as a AR person my suspicion would be that you would prefer the MSLs. |
I prize my system’s imaging. Vinyl: it cannot do it’s best unless the cartridge gives both WIDE channel separation, and TIGHT center channel balance. Tight center balance is not just for ’centered singer’, but it improves the location of any off-center instrument as well. Most ’Stereo’ is Phantom, and the tighter the signal, the better curtain of presentation. Next: an advanced stylus. Surprisingly, many name brand/popular cartridges come with Elliptical stylus. Not for me, and you will find the cartridges with both wide and tight are advanced stylus, better contact with the grooves. Cantilever: stiffer is better, increase stiffness, easier to break it. I won’t go stiffer than Boron. |
