Is There An "Absolute" Best Cartridge?

Mikelavigne, while Syntax has 2 Olympos (one of them really great...) he knows very well that even among his cartridge line-up it has fierce competition which it can not outperform.
With the RTR we have the old problem again - it has to be played via a RTR machine and that again is not out of question (it too will add and/or deduct quality) as it too is just a tape-recorder (if a big one...) and aside from perfect aligned C-37 with full NOS set of tubes, I really do not want to listen to any of the other RTRs around - far from calling them a reference. A truly great cart/arm set-up careful aligned on a decent TT will outperform 99.99% of all RTRs around aside from the very best tube-based pro-machines of days gone by ( the solid state output stage-RTRs are only a pale shade of what a RTR can do).
But as long as we play the very same record on various set-ups we will have a good test routine with at least one constant ( according to I. Kant and R. Steiner this one constant is all be need to move the universe...) among those cherish audio variables.

Dertonarm,

regarding RTR; there is nothing wrong with a Studer A-820 playing thru a custom Cello solid state output electronics as a reference. or an Ampex ATR-102 playing thru the same electronics. while i agree that 70's and 80's RTR decks had marginal output electronics they had superior transports to earlier machines. mated with great output electronics they are hard to beat. again we come to 'sounds' verses music. i've heard the Cello circuit compared to tubed output electronics. the tubes were slow and thick....the Cello was alive and allowed the music to breathe.....but had a much lower noise floor and greater refinement than the stock Studer output electronics.

have you investigated newer RTR transports with improved ss output electronics?

i guess we all have our 'holy grail's' and nothing will separate us from them.

there are many great cartridges i've not been exposed to. maybe the Olympos SL can be surpassed. i've just not heard that myself.

Dear Mike: As interesting as is the RTR source quality performance what Pedrillo sugest was/is a cartridge shootout and this will be nice and learning.

IMHO maybe the RTR/cartridge comparison could be for a next time, but if the majority decided it then is fine for me.

An audio shootout is always fun and if we can take advantage to start/build that Association that will be nice because I think that we all as a " group " better yet as organize group we can/could help to improve what we all ready have and what we all aspire to as members of the Audio High End Establishment.

As an organized group ( Association ) we can be in touch with several other Audiophile/audio-customers associations that already exist all over the world by many years to " work " in benefit of the AHEE where all belongs.
Dertonarm, remember what you an me ( others too. ) talks about some audio standards and the need to do/start something about?, well this is a good opportunity.

If you like ( all of you ) the idea to come to México, maybe just after/before RMFA ( I think in October. ), then I have the time to organize the " tour " and we all have the time to organize for that and to define: cartridges, records, shootout " process ", etc, etc.

In the other side IMHO an audio shootout could be more " positive " to do it in a well controled and more alike of what we all have: a home audio system instead an audio show room.

Aside this could be a good opportunity to know each other and talk on what we love/like.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

¡ Oh ! and don't forget the Mezcal and Chapulines!!! that can be waiting for all of you.

regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Regards, all: I am sure there are others who appreciate the concept of a meeting of audio cognoscenti to sample and compare well respected sources in a controled setting, but will be unable to participate and enjoy the experience. A recording might serve as a reference for those who would consider "adopting" one or several, but lack the opportunity to audition numerous high end cartridges. This could serve as a foundation for future reference (remember http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1246451558&&&/Establishing-a-common-analog-listening-b?) and as a tool related to individual system evaluation.

Details would be as agreed upon by the participants but I would be pleased to "subscribe" to a CD (with appropriate material identifying the cartridge, TT, RTR, musical selection etc.) in advance. One might anticipate the possibility this could be an event held in various locations in the future.
Just a thought.