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

 

dhite71

@dhite71 The Link is one I have read for the first time.

The content will help one to better understand the Design Intent and Materials used for some of the Cart's that are being suggested.

There is also very good descriptions of how Cart's compare from the same stable. There should be enough being discussed, to help with assisting your producing a used MC Cart' Shortlist.  

This individual is one of a very few, who I have followed for quite some time. There experiences attained through using a vast selection of Vinyl Replay Devices is way beyond that of many enthusiasts. It is off interest that I have now learned they have now began to adopt PC Triple C Wire in the Signal Path for the Cart'.

I have been a advocate of PC Triple C Wire used in the Cart's Signal Path for a few years now. This started as Ortofon Tag Wires, which from recollection really impressed and has over time expended to using it as a Signal Wire in Interconnects, Speaker Cables and now it is also being used as a Wire in Power Cables.

I have also been Instrumental in encouraging others to use it, which has resulted in the extended usage, where the Wire is now being used as Wand Wire from Cart' Tags through to RCA Connectors, Internal Hook Up wire on a Phonostage and Internal Cabinet Wire in a Speaker.

At present SAEC is the only Company using the PC Tri[le C wire as a Wand Wire on a Tonearm costing appox' £13000  

My wish is for the Wire to be found in a Cart' Coil and Lead Out Pins, hopefully AT might do this, as they did with OCC Wire.

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/my-personal-journey-to-my-sonic-lab.30722/

@clearthinker , I have the MC Diamond, the politically correct Anna. It is a very heavy cartridge and huge in comparison to other cartridges. I use it in a Schroder CB with the brass mounting plate and I get a resonance frequency in the 7-8 Hz range. So, it does not need a massive arm. Any of the intermediate mass arms will do.

@mijostyn    OK.  I don't do politically correct, running Krell KRS200s.  Anyway, how can Anna Netrebko, or Ortofon for that matter, be responsible for Putin invading Ukraine, any more than I am responsible for the British slave trade.  And why can we say 'black swan' but not 'blackboard'.  People do talk the most errant nonsense.

The Anna works fine in my Zeta, possibly heavyweight, arm.  I accept it may work well in somewhat lower mass arms although 7Hz is a tad less than ideal.  But my SY Aeroarm is definitely a non-starter:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=simon+yorke+aeroarm&sxsrf=APwXEdfhJCjY3yLdREVHEICpb6OjtmvL9A:1680962753160&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj3lKGeupr-AhXREsAKHab4A0gQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1280&bih=912&dpr=1#imgrc=sgWyv7XixpxyxM 

@clearthinker I'm with you.

No, if you have a well isolated turntable 7 Hz is not too low. Bass performance is improved, noticeably if you use propper subwoofers.