Is There An "Absolute" Best Cartridge?

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.

Mikelavigne, just checked and saw the A-820 listed and pictured in your system.
Sorry and by all means, don't take my remark about ss-based RTRs personal.
And yes, having had good relations to the Bavarian Broadcast as well as to two recording studios here in Munich I am pretty accustomed to the younger generation Studers too.
The improvement in speed stability and reduced vibration does not really make up for loss of dimensionality and low level dynamics compared to the C-37 - especially not when running at 15ips.

But this belongs somewhere else and RTRs are way behind me today. I had it, I put it to extreme and saw the borders and got some memorable experiences which helped me on my way with cartridge/tonearm set-up and the possible sound.
I respect your set-up and the A-820 is a fine machine. Should you ever run across a C-37 in fine shape with back-up set of original tubes you should nevertheless give it a serious thought - if you are really into RTR.
After all - all the truly great recordings till 1968 in Jazz, Pop and Classic alike were made on tube-based RTRs.

I am certainly no "tubes vs ss - choose sides! - audiophile".
I use both. I do believe in design - and I do get the results I want with either active devices. I use tubes in my preamplifier and ss in my power amps - partly SEss-OPT amps.

There is no audio-religion I follow - aside from true performance.
Results are all I am after.
Whatever rocks the house is fine with me.

Even if we can't count on Raul for Munich iIgh-End show - how about having a meeting with those analog-A'goners who are coming in ?
I am here and can offer a good listen as well as some company while touring through the show.
And a nice shoot-out of the carts will be possible either way - at the show (shouldn't be too difficult to arrange) or in 1 or 2 private listening rooms.

Dear friends: That could be fine. We can have two meetings: one in May and one in October here in México.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Downunder: +++++ " I have the "magical" Technics EPC-P100C-MK4 & Ortofon A90.

Raul can bring his vdh aligned Technics EPC-P100C-MK4

Dertonarm - you can bring a miyabe and your secret cartridge.

Lewm can bring his Ortofon M20FL super as the overachieving low cost cart.

Syntax, what are you going to bring? " +++++++

we are talking on two different analog source alternatives ( MC and MM/MI ) and IMHO in a shootout we need that both alternatives be " linked " with what each one needs, especially the MM/MI phono stage. It is desirable that the shootout could be fair or as close it can for both alternatives.

regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.