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Cartridge Recommendation

I have been struggling the past 5 months to get a Miyajima Kansui to work in my system. Wonderful midrange but too polite up top and not lively enough.

Associated equipment is Technics SP-10/Dobbins plinth,
12" Reed 2A Cocobolo arm, Herron VTPH-2, very modified Cary SLI-80 amp and Tekton speakers. I will likely be moving to headphones soon as part of a move so the Cary/Tekton will be replaced by Stax SR-009 phones and a comparable headphone amp.

Budget is around $6,500.
jarrett
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
If you want the most lively cartridge, then buy a Decca (London) cartridge. Stunning dynamics and soundstage. My vintage 60s rebuilt Decca FFSS MkIV C4E in an old 70s Hadcock beats my Schroeder Model 2/Allaerts MC1b on my Platine Verdier. As I have a two arm set up, I can just swap from one to the other and the Decca just sounds alive.
cbsppc's avatar
cbsppc
4 posts
 
Wrm57,

I have the Triplanar with the Shilabe. Is the arm horizontal when the cartridge is playing? I am playing it with tracking force of 2.97gm and pretty high anti skating.

Regards
Colin
emil_f
33 posts
 
Koetsu RSP. It's a good match with the Technics. Actually it was designed on this turntable. With 16g effective tonearm mass the Reed should support the Koetsu. I found 1.95g. to be optimal tracking weight.
elinor's avatar
elinor
275 posts
 
Jarrett, I agree with Raul. Your lack of top end could be anywhere in the analog chain. I can only tell you that for two RMAF shows I found the Myajima Shilabe and Kansui absolutely to die for in two very different systems. If anything, I found them to have fabulous dynanmics top to bottom of the frequency range. Do you have enough gain and loading options in your phono stage? The Myajimas have very low output and require a lot of gain. Is your arm set to correct VTA for this cartridge? I would have a conversation with Robin who distributes the cartridge.
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