3 Top Cartridges Picks

I have a Lyra Titan in a Basis Vector arm and this combination sounds terrific. According to a test record, this combination is just inside of the ideal range for mass/compliance compatibility. This combination brings so many records to life, both in terms of speed and dynamics, as well as rich harmonic palette. I don't know if this is a problem unique to the Titan, but I hear a big difference in sound for relatively small changes in VTA (thick records sound a bit dull when VTA is set for average records). I am not one inclined to fiddle with VTA, but if you are, the Vector arm is a pain in the ass to adjust VTA. I understand that Basis just came out with a retrofittable upgrade for easy VTA adjustment, but it costs something like $700 dollars and I think something (arm, armboard?) has to be sent back to Basis.

I also like the Temper W cartridge a lot -- extremely smooth and neutral sounding. I could live with either.

I don't like the sound of Grados myself -- overly rich in the midbass, muffled sounding (like sound coming through many layers of cotton) and the music seems to just slow down. However, if you like that kind of rich, creamy sound, I would suggest looking into the Allaerte cartridges which have that kind of sound, but not to the extreme of Grados.

Well, with due respect to Larryi, I disagree with his comments about Grado cartridges. In my system, at least, there is nothing overly rich, nor muffled, nor creamy, about the sound of the Reference. In my system, the sound from the Reference is very well-balanced, and sufficiently detailed without being etched, as is the case with many moving coils.

For what it's worth, the Grado Reference was one of The Absolute Sound's picks for "Editor's Choice" among the upper-priced cartridges.

Decca cartridges, because nothing yet designed has ever managed to equal their slam, and they are extremely detailed while being incredible at imaging to boot. However, they are a bitch. And I've been using it for years. Shure V15VxMR, because it has some of the best bass in the business, bar none, is extremely tonally accurate, tracks anything, is easy to set up because it is relatively insensitive to tonearms (but does respond to improvements), and simply gets to the heart of the music via its great ability with small and great timing cues: and it can be afforded by most. I have lived with this too. While I have owned several MCs, I would here name a third which I haven't heard but have read a lot about, the Ortofon SPU, said by many to be the most organic-sounding cartridge out there: and it has cool Art Deco styling! My next great acquisition.

My picks would be :

Jan Allaerts MC1B
Koetsu Urushi

I am waiting for an Allaerts MC1B Mk II, and I am afraid my Audio Note II won't have enough gain for it. Any suggestions for a good stepup device (even a good phono stage that I could run through my aux input)?