The greatest MM and MI cartridges ....

Dear Professor, 'outrageous Balkan exaggerarion'? If you
mean the watermelon then you missed my intention. This
was an 'exit strategy statement' based on Von Clausewitz . Ie that our Balkan conviction regarding the 'bigger is better' issue apply only to the vegetables, fruit and carts. To me however some other (very) big mysteries are more interesting. The fact that no Chinese wants a daughter and the fact that no American (on ebay) want to sell abrod. While I , despite my academic education, am not able to write all the numbers needed as
a symbolic representation of American foreign debts I am very disappointed about such a conduct because I missed a.o. 4 Acutex carts this way.

Regards,

Dear Timeltel: I will like to see you there because I'm testing ( what a coincidence. Well, we can't stop on the jungle's hunting. ) the same Acutex model ( second hand. ) and we can goo in deep about.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.

Allow me to chime in and share my experience with the ruby retip of the Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood.

A few years ago, I purchased a used Clearaudio Emotion turntable with Virtuoso Wood here on Audiogon. Unfortunately, it arrived with a bent cantilever. I too was curious about the ruby cantilever option while researching my options for a rebuild. I chose to give it a try.

After a few months of waiting (they are very busy at Soundsmith and the queue was fairly backed up), I received my Virtuoso with new ruby cantilever and line contact stylus. Initially I was very impressed with the increase in detail. However, over time, I found the sound to be a bit strident. I attempted several times to resolve this by changing alignment and lowering the raking angle, but to no avail.

In the end, I chose to drop back to the standard aluminum cantilever with elliptical stylus. Peter from Soundsmith was very accommodating and understanding of my situation. Upon remounting the new rebuild, I immediately heard the original romantic sound of the Viruoso Wood. It's hard for me to say if Peter's rebuild sounded better than stock because it had been so long since I first heard it. What I can say though, is to be careful when chosing the ruby cantilever option. It may work well with some carts, but I did not like the sound it made when attached to the Virtuoso.

I was thinking just the same thing the other day a comprehensive list of survivors MC/MI cartridges. Here is my contribution far be it from the end all:

ATML 170/180
Grado The Amber Tribute
Grado TLZ
Grace Ruby
Garrot P7
Nagaoka MP 50 Super
B&O MMC2 & MMC20CL
AKG P8ES Super Nova
Audio Technica AT 15SA w/an AT 20SS stylus
Reson Reca
Astatic MF-100
Stanton 881S
Stanton 981
STANTON 991EE Pro
Supex MF-100
Acutex 310
Acutex 320
Acutex 420
Astatic MF-200
ADC Astrian
Microacoustics MA630/830
Empire 750 LTD & 600 LAC
Empire 1000 ZE/X
Sonus Dimensions 5
Adante P-76

I have no list but an image of my humidor... containing my favourite MIs and MMs.

best @ fun only