Cmo, Salvatore has one perspective, but he has not personally heard that many cartridges. i think his web-site is valuable in that it will make you think for yourself.....which is the best advice.
in my personal cartridge experience i have found that the vdH Colibri XCP is the best cartridge i have heard. it is $6k retail, but can be purchased on audiogon for under $2k. i also have the Koetsu RSP II ($5500 list) and the Clearaudio Insider Gold ($7600 list). i much prefer the XCP to these 2 cartridges as more dynamic, detailed and explosive.
i have spent quite a bit of time with the Helikon and Benz Ruby.....neither of which is competive with the Insider or Koetsu.....so the Colibri XCP is a few levels better than those.
i also have the Colibri XWG which has a mytlewood body and gold coils, which is slightly less explosive and dynamic than the XCP, which has a polycarbonite body and copper coils. the XCP outputs .85mv and the XWG outputs .65mv.....so both will be easy to drive and create a lower noise floor than many other of the better MC's.
in my personal cartridge experience i have found that the vdH Colibri XCP is the best cartridge i have heard. it is $6k retail, but can be purchased on audiogon for under $2k. i also have the Koetsu RSP II ($5500 list) and the Clearaudio Insider Gold ($7600 list). i much prefer the XCP to these 2 cartridges as more dynamic, detailed and explosive.
i have spent quite a bit of time with the Helikon and Benz Ruby.....neither of which is competive with the Insider or Koetsu.....so the Colibri XCP is a few levels better than those.
i also have the Colibri XWG which has a mytlewood body and gold coils, which is slightly less explosive and dynamic than the XCP, which has a polycarbonite body and copper coils. the XCP outputs .85mv and the XWG outputs .65mv.....so both will be easy to drive and create a lower noise floor than many other of the better MC's.