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Anyone using the Clear Audio Virtuoso Wood?

Anyone used a really high end moving magnet? I hear they can be compressed or mushy even with the extra fine cut of the needle and well-made magnets. I also hear MM's are overall better rockers. My experience is all my selections, listed below, are pretty good, but I would really like a contrarian point of view, e.g. not just the normal, "All moving coils are better than moving magnets," line. I agree, in theory, but in the real world I wonder if it always works that way.

The carts I have in mind are all about $800.: the Shelter 501 (an MC), the Dynavector XX-2 (an MC) (purchased from the gray market at $800.), Lyra Argo or Dorian (again MC's) or the Clear Audio Virtuoso (a MM). My system has pretty good microdynamics, but they could be better; maybe 5 out of 10. The macrodynamics are more like 7 out of 10. All subjective of course.

My system consists of Cary and a Spacedeck with a '70's Kenwood phonostage. I listen to mainly rock and jazz, with some other stuff mixed in. Seems something more analytical might be good, like the Lyra or Clear Audio, as most of the equipment produces a well defined soundstage with a little bit of romance.

My question is: I want a cart that if it gets broken, I'm not going to feel ripped off if I have a cat jump up, or I accidentally knock it, or there's an earthquake. Two of these cart's have no rebuild/replace policy (Shelter and Dyna), two do (Clear Audio and Lyra).

Positive or negative words on any of the above? Anybody got two arms you go back and forth with?
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Showing 1 response by kjweisner

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kjweisner
293 posts
 
I'm on my third--but that's because I have 5-year old twin boys that have mangled the previous two (when they were 3 yrs old). The point being that I've had several chances to go in a different direction, but have been satisfied enough to stay with the Virtuoso. Prior to this, I was using a Benz Glider (low output MC) that never did much for me.

That said, I find evaluating cartridges to be really difficult. There are just soooo many variables and tweakery (arm compliance, platter mats, isolation, damping, VTA, tail-dragging, anti-skating, azimuth, etc.). As meticulous as I am with 'by the book' setup, I still end up making little adjustments here and there.

As for the environmental, I am using this cartridge on a Wilson-Benesch Circle with an ACT 0.5 arm, ringmat platter mat, all sitting on a Bright Star Audio air mass base. This feeds a BAT VK-3i pre with onboard phono stage, to a BAT VK-200 into Maggie 1.6s and a Vandersteen woofer.

I'm sure there's something better out there, but overall, I'm a pretty happy owner for the last four years.

Finally, Clearaudio has a pretty generous trade-in policy in the event you want to jump from MM to MC.
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