Is There An "Absolute" Best Cartridge?

Raul, As you know, I like what you are doing. And thru following in your footsteps (to a degree but making my own choices along the way), I am having more pure "fun" than ever with this hobby. I will always be grateful that you stimulated me/us to take a second look at this great class of cartridges. But any decent philosopher past or present would tell you that it is folly to argue from first principles what is "best". So I am kind of not with you in this case. (Also, I am jealous because I don't own a EPC P100C and can no longer get one.) It's perfectly ok to say that the Technics is the "best you have ever heard in your system". Why not leave it at that? What happens if you now audition the AKG P100LE (for one example, and which you told us you own but have not heard) and find it to be superior to the Technics? There are also some purportedly great Stanton/Pickering ultimate "low output" MMs that I don't think any of us have heard. I guess this is why Don Quixote did what he did.

Dear Dgarretson: +++++ " To the majority who will never cross this psychological devide, spend money to express yourself! " +++

this is part of what I want to talk in the thread: that part of the audiophile/audio high end establishment that almost never change.

Btw, yes this Technics cartridge is better in the bass frequency range that the Azden and this means a lot.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Vinyladdict: +++++ " that gets me shaking my head in wonder. " +++++

this is all about. Before we can have precise " conclusions " we need to shake a little our brains.

Btw, ++++ " I make damn sure I've got more than one person giving me an opinion on the item. " +++++

I remember that I recomended the Azden for you and told you that read the MM/MI thread where not me but others can give an opinion about. Please don't reat all of us that are participating in the MM/MI thread ( and many others that choose not participate but that are testing MM(MI's. )like " childs " that does not have each one criterion, all of us are adult people with knowledge in audio/music and with the desire to achieve better ways to enjoy music.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Travbrow: ++++++ " The things that make me wonder,why some of the new "state of the art" cartridges are not much better than some of "state of the art" models from 20-30 years ago.. " ++++++

there are many reasons ( each one of us have an opinion ) about from the " who cares " audio industry on the customers needs, poor voicing audio items design, only commercial oriented products, " corrupted " professional reviewers, non know-how, audio establishment, no research any more, etc, etc of course there are exceptions ( designers, reviewers, etc, etc ) to those facts. We need a new thread only to try to have answers precise answers to your critical question because this happen not only with cartridges but with other audio items/links that conform the audio chain.

+++ " Its a shame Technics/Panasonic doesn't produce these fine cartridges anymore. " +++++

agree and I can add that it is a shame that other manufacturers already " disappear " and that some great audio item designers already almost lose the " emotion " and old attitude that when they start theirs " history " in the audio industry, not all of course but many. Same for pro-audio reviewers.

In many ways I think that always ( time to time ) is important to think/return to our " roots " to remember why we are HERE and what put me HERE.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Mosin: +++++ " I own a 205, and it is a stellar cartridge that competes even with the $5000 MC I have. " +++++

well I appreciate that people like you take the time to try old analog source alternatives like the MM/MI one.

That the audio establishment already preclude its existence does not means it is not there alive and waiting for all of us to give each one great rewards.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.