Celebration vs Blackbird

Dear Alun: +++++ " An excellent phono stage will not help a poor cartridge " +++++

No it not help to the cartridge, it will help to you telling you that that cartridge is a poor performer, in a normal phonopreamp ( not an excellent one ) maybe you can't know that that cartridge is a poor performer because it have not the quality resolution for to " tell it ".

Some other time we can talk about: this is a critical subject in the anolog music sound reproduction and like I already post and in my experience the phonopreamp is the most important link in the analog reproduction, yes I know that every single link is important but the phonopreamp task is a very special and critical one.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

I understand what you are saying Raul as it does make sense. System hierarchy is definately an interesting subject regarding vinyl playback and would be a good thread starter (if it hasn't already been done!). I could suggest though that if muscial truth is found higher up the chain then one could only conclude that the speaker is the final and most influential component in the audio chain, as it allows us to hear what is happening further up. I think that David Wilson is also a believer in this theory.
BUT... a good tracking/sounding cartridge will allow the listener to enjoy a broader range of recordings regardless of the superiority of phono stage, no? If something is too revealing then it would also show all the defects in the vinyl and recording event thus creating a poorer listening experience.
I personally can't stand mistracking and groove distortion, however I appreciate the detail and ambient space provided by LP over CD. Surface noise on an LP can be really frustrating and judging by many of the complaints lodged on this forum regarding noise it is also something of an issue for many others.
One of the main reasons for looking at the Sumiko line is because many users seem to be happy with the overall sound and lack of having to tweek the tonearm to the n'th degree just to get the cartridge to make music. My ETII tonearm is fussy enough and I figured the Sumiko's may be more forgiving in the matter of setting VTA,Azimuth etc just right. Many audiophiles are masters of setting up a cartridge and tonearm and I'm certain you are one of them. I can assure you that I am not a master at this science and probably never will be. I hope I am buying one of my last cartridges for a looonggg time.
Thank you for your input and suggestions, now if only I could get that Aesthetix Rhea!

The Sonic Frontiers is no slouch, and NOT a budget phono stage which must be replaced instantly: Sonic Frontiers is a very serious, respected name, and the SFP-1 Signature is a true high-end item even by lofty Audiogon standards. There will ALWAYS be better phono stages out there, at least in some respects (very rare to be better in all once you hit a certain level of quality), so no need to be advising him to ditch it and and stampede out to his nearest high-end audio dealer. I'm with you on your rationale re. the Celebration - btw, did you buy it yet? - as I too favour cartridges which reliably sound musical on ALL (at least most) records, and which reduce surface noise. The issue of whether super-radical sylus profiles ultra-sensitive to VTA and dirt are more trouble than they're worth - i.e. being forced to change VTA for each record, having to clean each LP before play, etc., which would personally have me take out a hammer to destroy the offending item - has arisen in this forum before. I've had my eye on the Celebration for quite some time now, would love to read a mini-review by you! A classic low-output MC in the mold of the Celebration (which follows in its inspiration such classics as Supex, Koetsu, Kiseki) pays enormous dividends, in a certain ineffable reproduction of sound which is more akin to sampling fine wines (flavour and beauty as opposed to the cold technical perfection of so many transducers today), and in longevity: I've had my Kiseki for 15 years now, and though it isn't set up at all times, it certainly has very many hours on it, and still performs as it did in its early days. This is a common experience too with Koetsus. Buy it, set it up once, and enjoy! Then get back to us. I may be following in your footsteps, as an alnico-magnetted MC certainly tickles my fancy.

I haven't purchased one yet as I'm still trying to make up my mind between the Blackbird and Celebration. I am leaning towards the Celebration however but I'd really like to hear my SFP-1sig in MM mode just to make sure it is being used to it's fullest.
Thanks for your opinion on the SFP-1 sig, it makes me feel that I'm still ok for a bit even though I do agree to some level what Raul was trying to say. I really like the Aesthetix and would like to hear it in my system but my Benz Micro gold would be wasted on such a beast!
I'll post an honest review on whichever cartridge I choose.

Well, I finally got my Celebration set up and about 10 hrs on it.
I'm hooked, as is my wife! This thing is simply amazing and without a doubt a HUGE step up from my baby Benz.

Setup was very easy and well documented and it sounded great right out of the box.

No problem with the SFP Signature+ phono stage and my passive line stage.

So far we have been enjoying LP's we previously couldn't play due to poor sound quality. The Celebration runs down the groove without a hint of trouble. No mistracking or inner groove distortion to ruin the last song on the lp. It's tremendous bass is a bonus with the sometimes light bottomed ETII tonearm.

I can't speak highly enough of this baby and it's a sure bet. Probably one of the biggest upgrades EVER in my system.

Thanks to all those who helped us out.