Survey: What are your favorite cartridges?

[LeeS]

Just wondering what people are using in their system and if they had experience with others they would recommend?

Can be low, medium, or high output...whatever you like. Might also be helpful if you include your turntable/arm.

Thanks. My goal is to see what is popular among the vinyl folks on the board.

[Randy W]

Koetsu - very low surface noise, non-fatiguing treble, great midrange, tight but somewhat attenuated bass, superb soundstaging.

[LeeS]

Thanks Randy.

[gener8tr]

I love my Shure V15 Type IV. Why did they ever stop making this one?

[chosenhandle]

Transfiguration Temper W

Hard to find users, but those who I have talked with really like the soundstage and presentation of the music. The cart on my system really seems to "get out of the way".

[sberger]

sumiko celebration. have used a dynavector 20 x-l, benz ref, benz glider, shelter 501, but the celebration is just about perfect for me. great tonally, and very unfussy. also very easy set up. can't imagine ever using anything else.

[Jay F]

On my P3, I have only used the Rega Super Elys. It carries the music along very propulsively (tres PRaT-y), and I think I will get another one, or the Elys 2, the current iteration, when the time comes. Soundstage is not great, but I don't care so much about that. There's something that captures my attention about this combination that doesn't have to do with soundstaging and that kind of thing.

I had three cartridges on my old Planar 3. The Elys was too bright, too crispety-crunchety. The Shure V15 (or whatever..~$300) was a bore--like looking at the music through a gray window. The Dynavector 10x4ii was just right. My goldilocks cartridge. I can't recall how its soundstaging was.

I have found, though, that when I'm really enjoying the musical presentation, I'm not thinking about soundstage and imaging, etc. Those things are a compensation I look for to prop my interest up when I'm listening to CDs, because CDs generally don't engage me musically.

[TommyTunes]

I owned both the Lyra Lydian B and Helikon, if I could use low/mid outputs I would immediately buy another Lyra. They are somewhat cold sounding without any mid-range "magic" but I LOVE their detail and soundstage resolution.

[Ronflugelguy]

Currently, Lyra Skala is the best Lyra I have heard(although I haven't heard a Titan). A much smoother presentation than the Helikon. Better midrange. But does not quite hit the mark a Koetsu does in the mids. I have a Koetsu Black, and am considering moving up in the line. There's something about a piano sound on a Koetsu. They just do not track as well as a Lyra. I still believe that a Black is one of the best $1500 carts available. The Skala is great and to me, gives me low listener fatigue and nice detail at the same time.

[Ronflugelguy]

Transfiguration Temper W

Hard to find users, but those who I have talked with really like the soundstage and presentation of the music. The cart on my system really seems to "get out of the way".

I've heard this cart. many times. Its very enjoyable.

[LeeS]

Ron, that Skala is getting great reviews and so is the Dorian at a more reasonable $750.

[Metralla]

The original Garrott P77 moving magnet. Based on the same body used by A&R but modified, and with a hand-mounted Weintz Parabolic Microscanner. This is one of the best moving magnet cartridges ever made. We know why they stopped making this one - the Garrott Brothers committed suicide.

Len Gregory's Music Maker would probably be the modern equivalent.

There is really something special about cartridges that have a top of the line stylus hand mounted under the microscope by a real expert. They get the alignment of the diamond on the cantilever just spot on, and this makes a huge difference.

[Ski Bum]

Koetsu Urushi. Just love the lush midrange (OK, it's probably a coloration, but a real nice one). Excellent at de-emphasizing surface noise and a good tracker. Great imaging, decent dynamics.

The prior occupant of my tonearm was a Grado Reference, which was a far weaker tracker and was less warm. OTOH, the Grado's sound has superior body/solidity.

[Ronflugelguy]

Koetsu Urushi. Just love the lush midrange (OK, it's probably a coloration, but a real nice one). Excellent at de-emphasizing surface noise and a good tracker. Great imaging, decent dynamics.

The prior occupant of my tonearm was a Grado Reference, which was a far weaker tracker and was less warm. OTOH, the Grado's sound has superior body/solidity.

That's the one I'm headed for as my second Cart.:righton: BTW, Red or Black?

[reb]

Transfiguration Temper V. Annoying vinyl distortions are non-existent with this cartridge. Frequency response is quite flat for a cartridge.

[Larpy]

Another vote for Koetsu. Comapred to the various Benzes I've used (Glider through L2) and the Lyra Helikon, it tracks better and sounds more musical, especially in the midrange.

Context is important here, so let me add that I use a Linn LP-12/Ekos combo.

[Mike from NYC]

Ron, that Skala is getting great reviews and so is the Dorian at a more reasonable $750.

I guess I live in the low rent district :)

I have a Dynavector 10x5, Stanton 881s, Pickering SVX-5000, Shure Type IV and a few others unmounted.

Since I did't do A/B comparisons with more $$$$ carts my Dynavector sounds fine as does the Stanton and Shure. My ears tell me they sound fine but then again, I don't have those 'golden ears' as others do, which may be a blessing in disguise.

[Ski Bum]

That's the one I'm headed for as my second Cart.:righton: BTW, Red or Black?
Mine is black with gold flecks. Looks very natural with my Goldmund Studio turntable, which has a black plinth etc.

[bangsezmax]

Stereo - Stanton 680/681 with the MKII-S stereohedron stylus
Mono - Denon DL-102
78RPM - Grado 78C

[vinyl anachronist]

That's the one I'm headed for as my second Cart.:righton: BTW, Red or Black?

There's a third one now, the Wajima. It looks almost like a Rosewood with gold flakes all over it, but it's in the Urushi line.

I've heard the Vermillion (Red) one, and it's less Koetsu-like than the others, less lush, more neutral. The Tsugaru is the one I'm going for (the black one with the gold flakes).

[Grant]

I love my Shure V15 Type IV. Why did they ever stop making this one?
Raw material supply issues and a couple of other manufacturing issues.

[teaser5]

The original Garrott P77 moving magnet. Based on the same body used by A&R but modified, and with a hand-mounted Weintz Parabolic Microscanner. This is one of the best moving magnet cartridges ever made. We know why they stopped making this one - the Garrott Brothers committed suicide.



I actually didn't know this... Two brothers committed suicide? Good Lord!
How long ago was this?
I have a Garrott Optimum S that I love on my P3. Bought it maybe two years ago.
Thanks!
Peace-
Norm
t5

[Blumenkohl]

Granted I am still only beginning to enter high-end territory with my setup, but the performance boost I got after exchanging my Shelter 201 for a Benz H2 was simply awesome. Like moving in a completely new turntable or new speakers of much higher quality. Benz is also providing the greatest service I have yet come across, which makes cost of ownership substantially less than many competitors'.

[michael w]

Favourite cartridges tend to be of the low output moving coil variety;
From the lush, romantic old Koetsus and Shelter to the more analytical Carnegie, Spectral, Lyra, Monsters.

Plus the occassional high output MC; Sumiko Blue Point Special, various Dynavectors, Benz Glider HO.

Very rarely does a high output MM do anything for me, exceptions; Grace F9E, Audio Technica AT-ML170, Grado Signature 8.

Main vinyl spinner for the last 19 years; a Well Tempered Turntable with modified Well Tempered Arm.

[LeeS]

Main vinyl spinner for the last 19 years; a Well Tempered Turntable with modified Well Tempered Arm.


I love the oil damping mechanism on that puppy. :cool: