My current Benz-Micro ACE low or Koetsu Black?

Wow, KurtTank, Tom, and Jean have all really banged the nail on the head for you, Mark. Good advice. I have tried both of the cartridges you mention. The Ace is a pleasing cartridge, as you say, and though maybe not "better" than the Black, this is subjective and the Benz, IMHO, no doubt sounds very good with that arm. Jean makes a very interesting point, BTW, with respect to the Koetsu "voicing". You will get all sorts of advice regarding table selection. If you are not ready to go that route yet, financially or otherwise, I'd have to recommend sticking with the Ace given your present setup.

Ooops, didn't mean to exclude Doug from the "good advice" category. He must have posted as I was writing.

No problem. Are we even now? ;-)

(Apologies to others for an inside joke.)

Mark: The Koetsu cartridge Trade Mark is a faulty low bass and a faulty high frecuency response ( Kurt you are right ). Only the KRSP and the KOSP have good performance all over the frecuency audio range.

Jean that Trade Mark is in all TTs, I already try it on: Micro Seiki, Acoustic Signature, Technics SP10MK2 and Denon DP80. Same " thing ".

Till to now, I never understand why Koetsu do all those heavy faulty designs that are really innacurate to the music sound reproduction.

Mark, Twl is right: change your TT and stay with your Benz Micro and stay away from Koetsu, but the KRSP.

Regards ans enjoy the music.
Raul.

Thanks a ton for all of your advise.

Ready for this? I used to have a Horizon - what an awesome table! Don't ask me how I ended up with the Moth (seriously, don't), but now I'm kinda stuck with it (hence my system being in the "Budget Minded" section). I've kicked myself over and over for getting rid of it, but am going to have to live with what I've got for the time being.

The great thing is that my modest setup really does sound pretty damn good. I've listened to all sorts of systems over the years, and this one, for whatever reason - be it the room, the speaker positioning, the cryo'd tubes, the wires...or that awesome cartridge/arm combo - sounds just great for my taste/music selections (acoustic guitar, piano, traditional jazz, ancient music, etc.).

I, like all of you (not to make any assumptions) are in some sort of constant search for "better sound." Even if it's not required, we like the process and experiences along the way (and all that freaking incredible music!)

Anyhow, thanks again - I hope you all find what you may be looking for.

Cheers,
Mark