Magic Diamond vs Airtight PC1?

Gregadd-
Sorry to hear that. Mine was the classic catch the cuff of your shirt on it while adjusting the belt. I watched it in slow motion as it tore off, tumbled through the air and dropped down onto the platter. I'm going to keep it in a little glass bottle near the table as a gentle reminder.

Though the PC-1 is getting some good press,the Transfiguration Orpheus just got a RAVE review in Hi Fi News,FWIW!My friend has it,and I have heard it enough times,now,to know it CLEARLY trounces the Tempers,which I happen to own(sorry Neil -:)!I have heard the Magic Diamond,and it was quite good.I heard it with my "own" Decca LP's,and it really brought out what I like about those irreplaceable recordings.
I am just a bit sceptical as to the PC-1,as the company has not released any previous models(I think),and suddenly almost all the mainstream reviewers(even those in Great Britain)are listing it as a reference."THAT GOOD",first time out of the blocks,usually states...1-New breakthrough design,or...2-Something relating to reviewer perks!
I hope it is #1!!I,too,am looking "hard" at both the Orpheus,as well as the PC-1!
Best of luck!!

Perhaps it's worth noting that both carts in question are distributed by Axiss. With that in mind I talked with Jaime, their analogue specialist today as I am also interested in upgrading my reference cartridge as well as selling them. He said that although he hadn't done a controled comparison, his sense was that the Magic Diamond was perhaps a bit more detailed with a little more extension and that the Airtight was possibly more "musical". Wayne Garcia characterized teh Magic Diamond as being unflappably refined but not as gutsy as the coarser Shelter 90x he was comparing it to, also distributed by Axiss.

Sirspeedy, how did the Magic Diamond compare to the Orpheus or your Tempers? Thanks.

Krc,different set-ups,on different days.NO way to make a valid comparison!The Magic Diamond made "my" LP's,which I brought sound like what a DECCA should sound like!A fine cartridge,IMO.I remember saying to myself,it had a very good sense of stage width,knowing my LP's were recorded in Kingsway Hall.Nice harmonic and tonal balance,which is a very important area to me.Many hobbyists get too caught up in bass and dynamic flow.The tonal shadings can make or break Classical music,which I like alot.So the Magic Diamond impressed "this" hobbyist,which means little.Though my friend felt the same way.
The Temper is a superb cartridge,and I can easily compare it to the Orpheus,having a dear friend who had both.I set up his original Temper,and have recently re-voiced his Orpheus for him,since he got a new arm.I've heard both "tons" of times.
The Orpheus is more dynamic,has a better stage,and has better detail resolution,compared to the Temper-V.It can flesh out more subtle detail,than the Temper-V,and has better timbral balance.Particularly in the "treble region".This is one area I particularly care about,in the Temper vs Orpheus.I would say the difference is very similar to comparing "very good" phono tubes to "superb" lower noise phono tubes.
I have NO idea how it compares to the other great cartridges on the market.There are SO many good ones,that it is almost silly to get too caught up in which is best.As long as the arm/table combo is OK!
Best!