$2k for new Cartridge Benz LP or......

I recommend the My Sonic Labs "The Eminent" for about $2500 brand new. It is an excellent cartridge that I currently prefer in my system to the Dynavector XV-1s. It does have some of the Koetsu Magic but has incredible dynamics & great extension at the extremes. I haven't tried it on my SME V though to know compatability. The Benz is supposed to be an ideal match for the SME. I prefer my Dynavector on a high mass tonearm.

I have the same table - Oracle Mk. V with a Vector arm & the Benz LP ebony.
It sounds fantastic!
Great bass, superior highs & a very lush & warm midrange.
As soon as my new racks arrive - I will switch the Benz LP ebony to my Nottingham Mentor with SME V5 (my reference table) & use the VDH Colibri with my Oracle/Vector combo.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Richard

Dear Nkj: The Ruby 2 is a very good cartridge and mates good with your V specially if you re-wired internally. The LP is a different cartridge, very good too but I preffer the Ruby 2.

No, I don't like the Koetsu Rosewood the Ruby 2 is far better. If you want a Koetsu you have to go for the Rosewood Signature Platinum.

Maybe you don't have to pay 2K for something different that you really like, here are some very good alternatives:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgcart&1145120698

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgcart&1143426655

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgcart&1142611400

and the Sumiko Celebration ( 1.5K. New. ). This one was voiced with the tonearm you have: great match.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

I started years ago with a Benz MC-Gold, and have worked through the Glider, H2O, Ruby 2 and now the LP for the past 3 years. My system has the exact same phono stage ( Io Signature with volume controls and 2 power supplies ). My table (Avid) has the SME IV arm.

The step from the Ruby 2 to the LP is a quantum leap. And this is based on the LP from 3 years ago. Benz keeps improving it. If you want more info, call Garth at Musical Surroundings. They have stepped up the output voltage a little and changed some of the internal parts, yet kept the price the same.

One nice thing about Benz is that factory retip is reasonably priced. Often, you just simply wind up with a new cartridge and the old one is cycled back through. As you know, it is less expensive to stay within the Benz line for an upgrade than to switch brands.

The LP is very lyrical, harmonically rich and has deep, taut bass. The timbres are very natural - transparent and revealing. I love the sound of the Benz. Have not tried a Koetsu, my friends that have them love them and they also like the sound of my analog playback. The LP tracks well and is perfectly mated to the SME arm. Vocals are really well rendered, soloists and massed chorus alike. I listen to lots of classical and some jazz, most of it recorded in a hall with minimal microphones (ie not studio recordings). The LP really lends itself to conveying the ambience and warmth of acoustically recorded music.

One thing I did find was that I had to get a really well shielded DIN-RCA tonearm cable. I tried the Hovland, Graham, Harmonic Tech and Music Metre and settled on the Nordost Quattro Fil (just upgraded to Nordost Frey).

Good luck on your search.

Well thanks for all the opinions it is interesting to see that many have(or have had) experience with the Io,Oracle,Benz Ruby2 and LP..too bad not as a system!

I love some elaboration from Raul...why do you like the Ruby over the LP? I will be going to hear the LP at my dealer and will let you know how I make out in the next while.

Cheers,

Nkj