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! smiley

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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I have a Hana ML on a Marantz TT-15S1 (made by Clearaudio). Sutherland TZ Vibe phono stage.  It sounds great. 

I recently purchased Kacey Musgrave's Deeper Well on vinyl just to see how it sounds. I thought I would prefer streaming over vinyl, but they both sound excellent. 

@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.

So many praising reviews about Hana ML one might get the impression that this is the perfect cartridge

I wouldn't say that it has a sound signature.  It's not overly warm, bright, etc. 

I switched back and forth between vinyl and streaming and I couldn't find much difference.  I think my dac and streamer are pretty good.

I don't think you'd be disappointed.