Seeking Legit Cartridge Expert?


Anyone out there have a reputable guy who knows the nuances of carts in the $2000+ range? So many opinions.....

current set up 

VPI Super Prime Scot / 10.5 arm

Hana ML

Harbeth 40.3XD 

What's going to drastically improve my sound / detail....mostly listen to Hard Rock, Zeppelin etc....

 

Thanks! 

128x128tommypenngotti

Your Harbeth's make everything sound good, so I'd look for a cartridge that was more dynamic with excellent detail.  The Miyajima Shilabe would be a hopping dynamic cartridge that should be great with rock and jazz albums.  It also has a potent bass sound.  Lists about $2750 or so.  Could get it for well under $2000 if you go used or they have a good sale on.  It's the kind of cartridge that keeps your feet moving.  It tracks about 3.2 but supposedly doesn't add more wear to records than ones that track at much less than that.

Bob

 

So far the best cart for VPI me try is dynavector. Try 20x2L or better the XX2

I’ve had the Hana ML in my system and also have the 40.3’s.

What amp are you driving them with?

@OP As you have an ML in your system, you should listen to a Umami Blue - sounds great on everything but it is a big sounding cartridge with great dynamics so very well suited to rock.

@tommypenngotti 

Several things you can do to make a significant improvement in your turntables performance. In order foe a great cartridge like the Ortofon Windfeld Ti to sound it's best you have to change that arm. VPI has it's newer Gimbal arm that is a direct replacement and arms like the Kuzma 4 Point 9 and Schroder CB will fit. Then I would add an isolation platform and finally a cartridge. The best cartridge I have ever heard in the $3000 is the Soundsmith Voice which also is high output which has many advantages and it is handily superior to any moving coil cartridge below its price. Nest up would be the Soundsmith Sussurro and Ortofon Windfeld Ti. Above that would be the Soundsmith Hyperion and the Ortofon Verismo. 

If you insist on keeping the arm you want to go for the highest compliance you can find like any of the Van den Huls or an old Shure V15. Unipivot arms do not hold the cartridge securely. Makers of high end unipivots go to great lengths to stabilize the arm. Basis added a 2nd bearing and Graham uses an opposing magnet system. Tonearms can only have two degrees of freedom, vertical and horizontal. Unipivots as you are aware every time you pick up your arm add a third degree, axial or torsional. They do not hold the cartridge body securely.