New Cartridge choice

Very helpful thankyou, to answer Doug Deacon's question, I am getting the fully adjustable K and K stage, 44db on mm and set for 20db gain with the installed Step Up, that is 64db gain in total. You can adjust the step up to a maximum of 70db of gain. Kevin Carter says in his opinion the stage is quiet enough to cope with .24mv cartridges with the set up 64 db of gain.

Dear David: I own the RSP and the 90X, both are different cartridges.

The Koetsu is really fine only if it is matched with the right tonearm: SAEC, Ikeda, Lustre, etc.., if not the Koetsu is a serious faulty ( at the frequency extremes ) cartridge. This cartridge really shine on those tonearms. Now, in the common today tonearms it is a " midrange frequency " cartridge but like you and every one that likes music know: the music is not only " midrange ", it is the whole frequency event.

The 90X is a top performer in every single area and I agree about with Vik and Kurt. This cartridge is much much better that what represent its " low price ".

About the ZYX any one that I heard ( till today ) is faulty too at the xtremes in different way than the Koetsu: not recomended if you appreciate the live music.

+++++ " It is also fairly easy to drive (for a MC cartridge anyway), given the 0.6 mv output. " +++++
This characteristic of the 90X is very welcomed along with a very user friendly in the set-up.. This Shelter is not only Stereophile class A but is too the reference cartridge for R. Harley editor in chief of TAS.

Yes, you are right: +++++ " I know its an old question and one thats impossible to answer, as cartridge choice is so personal.... " +++++

Now, there are other alternatives out there like: Allaerts, Transfiguration, Lyra, Ortofon, Van denHul, Sumiko, Denon, Benz Micro, Dynavector, Clearaudio, etc, etc.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

I love the VDH Colibri, but had reliability problems and other issues. I previously owned Koetsu Rosewood signature (too warm and not open or resolving enough for my tastes), Benz Ruby, Clearaudio Accurate, Lyra Titan, etc. Really liked the Titan, but my new reference is the Dynavector XV1S which is overall the best cartridge I have owned. I am currently running the Dynavector with the SME 20/2 and Triplanar VII. I have heard many good things about the lower Dynavectors as well.

I would just comment that Platinum Koetsu's are significantly different animals than the non-platinum (and less expensive) ones. The main difference is that (properly set up on the correct arm) the platinums perform much better at the frequency extremes than their non-platinum siblings. One pays dearly for this improvement in both cost of the cartridge (the more you pay, the better they get) and in the quality of the phonoamp required to cope with the lower cartridge output.

I have been able to compare on my own SME 20/2a the Koetsu Black, Rosewood Signature, RSP and now own a Platinum Onyx. There is a significant improvement at every step and at each step there is no going back. My Onyx is wonderful but lists at $7.5k!

There is a good recent discussion of Koetsu alternatives here:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1132299685&read&keyw&zzzyx=universe

My first hand knowledge is mainly with Koetsu's but I, too, am curious about the alternatives.

I purchased a VdH MC One Special for my father's rig, and it sounds truly wonderful. With crisp resolution and a ridiculous sound stage (both depth and width), I think it's a great option.

(And it won't break the bank)

http://www.vandenhul.com/phono/mc-one-s.htm

Cheers, and good luck.