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Sota+SME IV=Ugh !!!

Greetings,
I’m driving myself crazy, once again! I’m trying to determine which of the below wood body cartridges will give me the warmest, richest, and most romantic sound. Detail and attack are secondary. I listen to a lot of female jazz vocalists, and classical music. My room is rather bright (a lot of glass and hardwood flooring).

My components:
Sota Star Sapphire w/ SME Series IV
Conrad Johnson Premier 16 pre, Premier 12 monos, CJ’s EF1 Phono pre
Tannoy Turnberry Speakers
Stealth PGS I/C’s
VandenHul Bi wire

My Options for a cartridge:
Clear Audio Maestro
Grado (Reference or Sonata)
Benz SH Woodbody
As suggested…

Want to stay with wood body and around $1,000 - $1,400 in cost. Thanks so much for any opinions put forth!
rbschauman
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
03-02-12: Stringreen
The hum that the above poster is talking about comes from the Grado cartridge. They don't do well with some arms. Even if the hum is inaudible when playing music, it depletes the amp from valuable power and lessons the quality of the audio.
While I would not completely rule out the possibility of adverse effects on audio quality, if there were any such effects it would not be because of power depletion. For typical speaker efficiencies the hum levels we are discussing probably correspond to less than a thousandth of a watt.

Regards,
-- Al
poppynogood
2 posts
 
Why do you feel you need to have a wood-body cartridge? There are many other cartridges which will give you the sound you are looking for. From your description of what you want to hear my suggestion would be a Sumiko Blackbird.
minorl
1,016 posts
 
I own a Sota Saphire vacume turntable with SME IV arm and I have to tell you it absolutely sounds wonderful using the Sumiko Blackbird cartridge.

enjoy
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