The Hana are the favored child it seems in today's world. Made by Excel, you probably cannot go wrong with it. The Ethos gets a solid report also. I would include an Audio Technica ART9XI into the mix, and if you shop carefully you should get it at budget or less. Dynavector is a solid choice too, the only one I have no experience from the brand is Concept. There are so many variables in analog that its going to be a bit of a challenge to say what you will hear in your system for sure, so describing a cartridge is a bit of challenge. I would say of the 3 the AT is going to be the most neutral and refined, and the Dynavector is a close second. The Excel will have a bit more body and texture, but this is all shadings of a good sound.
MC cartridge for Clearaudio Concept 1600$
Hello friends! This topic appears once in a few years, the last one similar (but lower budget) was three years ago so it's time! 
I have Sumiko Amethyst MM Cartridge on my Clearaudio Concept (basic) turnable and I want to try MC now and to bring the level & cost of cartridge into line with my stereo system. My budget is up to 1600$. So everybody oddly enough says the best option is Concept MC. Of course. But I would like to explore some other options because there are several interesting models in this price range with very similar tech. specs and that will also suite fine my tonearm with effective mass 9g. Here's the list:
- Concept MC Signature
- Dynavector DV-XX2 MKII
- Hana ML
- Goldring Ethos MC
- Goldring Ethos SE MC
I wonder if anyone has expierence with any of these cartridges to tell something about it's character, sound signature, musicality, accuracy. Will be great if in compareson with Concept MC.
I listen (sometimes with my wife) to music from Billie Ilish to Pantera, from Portishead to Darkthrone, from Cypress Hill to Cannibal Corpse, even from Gabber to Sludge. Sometimes sad and romantic, sometimes evil. But very emotional like me. My phonostage is Hegel V10. Thanks for help
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@neonknight Thank you for advice! Not sure AT will suit my tonearm because it has compliance 25 10-6 cm/dyne (10 Hz), too much. And neutral and refined is good, but I'd prefer emotional and energetic with punchy low end. If Hana has more "meat" it is also good. |
@sls883 so how can you describe Hana's sound signature?
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- 46 posts total