Cartridge Advice Please

@lewm - I know we have to take online commentary with a chunk of salt but I have been in sales for all of my life and pride myself on empathy and being open-minded.  As I mentioned it was very disappointing how responsive and helpful the SS group and Peter were when I was considering their cartridge and then how it was when I had a problem.  I can't remember the dealer's policy as it was online and had never dealt with them before but I know I couldn't just return it as it was beyond that point.  I made it out with minimal loss so was happy to just walk away from the deal and have no further curiosity of SS cartridges.  I used all the load settings offered by my 2SE:  47K, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50 ohms.  The recommended is >/= 470 so 500 was the optimal choice.  It did sound the best and loudest there, but again, where I can listen to my Kiseki with 0.48mV output at a loud volume at 50 on most records, I was at 70+ on the SS with 0.40mV.  My Benz is the medium output at 0.8mV and there was not much difference between it and the Kiseki, maybe a few volume points, which tells me the difference between the Kiseki and the SS should have been barely noticeable.  I believe in SS and Peter's passion and skills but simply had a very bad experience.

Hi,

I used and loved the Benz Wood too, then I changed my TT from Michell to Avid (I remain in the UK shop) keeping my SME V tonearm.

My new cartridge is Benz LP and is great. If you have an arm that doesn't support heavy cartridges, I suggest you LP and not LPS, because this is almost heavier twice than LP without improvements.

@dhite71 , that is an unfortunate experience you had with PL. I had a high output Voice and after about 50 hours it started mistracking. Inspection showed the stylus was pointed in an odd direction. The cantilever had twisted in it's fitting! I took a picture and emailed it to SS. Peter messaged me and just said, "call" and the number, which I did. He told me to send him the cartridge and to label the box, "For Peter's desk only." I had a brand new cartridge 4 days later. So, Peter must have had a bad day or somehow you rubbed him the wrong way, whatever. The Voice is a high output version of the Sussurro and in most systems a much better cartridge and you would have had no problems with output. 

If you want to improve the performance of your system you have to move up the chain. I think the MSL does that nicely. Be patient and save up, that advice coming from an immediate gratification freak, but there you are. 

I have the Ortofon Cadenza Black on my VPI HW40 and love the results. I bought another Cadenza Black as a backup.

IF you are tempted by a expensive cartridge, you can find one with a broken cantilever, send to Steve at VAS, have him put new cantilever/stylus.

https://vasnyinc.com/

Ask his advice before buying, there are models he tells you to avoid.