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All three art top flight cartridges but if you like the sound of the A90 the MC Anna would seem the logical choice.
I've had the Dynavector XV1S, have the A90 and have the MC Anna on order which I've been waiting on for a while, so if you decide on the Anna you better get one on order.
Best of Luck
Peter |
i'm an MC Anna owner and love it.....it's the best cartridge i have heard.
but if you are looking for alternatives to the Anna that would be more the Lyra Atlas (or Olympos SL if you can find one), not the Titan i. and more the XV-1t, not the XV-1s. the Titan i and XV-1s are both fine carts but not the latest and greatest from their manufacturers. the Atlas and XV-1t are both in a similar price range as the Anna.
i've heard the Olympos SL in my system, but not the Atlas or XV-1t.
good luck with your decision. if you liked your A90 you will love the Anna, but have not lived with those other 2 carts. the Anna builds on the strengths of the A90 but with more energy and body as well as this ease that is intoxicating. it is warmer than the A90 but 'warmth' is not the word i would use.....i would describe it as more added tonal richness but with more precision. |
As you are looking for suggestions, I would add the Air Tight Supreme to your list. It was developed on an SME V arm like you own and the match is superb. It has great speed, detail and dynamics and its sense of tone is rich and dense. It is an extraordinary cartridge. You may want to contact Albert Porter who has compared the Atlas to the Supreme and has written about them on his system page.
Have fun trying to decide which is best in your system. |
Hmmm.. I have a slightly different take on Air Tight vs Atlas.
I also have XV-1s in my system and I have to say that while it is excellent, big, punchy bass, big huge sound, it does not quite have the refinement of PC-1 supreme or Lyra Atlas. XV-1t is going to be a comparable cartridge to these 2. I almost got the Anna Netrebko but put that planned on hold as I just ordered Minus K platform and am thinking of changing one of my tone arm first. Depending on where you are though, Anna could be significantly cheaper than Atlas and is probably closer to XV-1s/Titan but in the US certainly it would be closer to Atlas/1t.
In my system, I had both PC-1 Supreme and Atlas on Reed 3Q on my TW Acustic Raven AC-1 running into either Lamm LP2 or Aesthetix Io Eclipse. Lyra was running into Lyra Arion SUT when using Lamm. Air Tight was running into either Ortofon T100 or the new Dyna SUT into Lamm. I found Air Tight to be a bit leaner, sweeter, more delicate tone, a bit more extended on top, bass is not as big but as tight and deep. Lyra was actually a touch warmer in my system. It would be a hard call between the two but right now my Air Tight is on Graham which I never could get to sound the way I really for the type of music that I listen to most often but I prefer it on certain type of music over Lyra/Reed but I only listen to those type of music may be less than 10% of the time. So for now Lyra/Reed is what I prefer until I find a more suitable arm for Air Tight.
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I have compared the Titan i to the Airtight PC-1 (not the Supreme) in my system and, using the Airline arm, the Titan sounded more 'spotlit' in the highs, the mids were natural and the bass was deep; by comparison, the Airtight sounded richer, but not at all sluggish and to my ears, in my system, more satisfying. I think the contrast between the Atlas (which I gather is a better cartridge than the Titan i) and the Airtight Supreme is similar in nature based on Albert's descriptions in his thread. |
Gentlemen , thank you very much for a very helpfull suggestions and for sharing individual experiences on each cart with different arms. For now the ortofon dealer offers a trade in of my A90 & other audio gear i have which will lessen the cash out for d Mc Anna. However im afraid that because of that deal i might be tied up to Ortofon sound. I am open for a new sound but have no a close idea how does a DV xv 1s , Lyra Titan or PC1 will sound with my system. May i narrow down my curiosity between PC1 and McAnna & DV XV-1s sound difference ? |
These are all outstanding carts and you really can't go wrong no matter which you choose. If you like the A 90, then the choice should, IMHO, be obvious.
NJoy
Pradeep |
A lot of cartridges sound very similar to each other, of course not
identical, but at the end of day it is the way it is. The Titan i is good but it
doesn not make so much sense when you own A-90 already and you
want something different. The XV-1s is different, but imo nothing
special, slow, anemic and simply much too expensive for that kind of
"Standard". DeKaitora Rua is much better in everything... The
Anna is brand new, of course it gets the ultra Hype based on that but
here is the same story, A-90... Anna?
When you want something really different, musical, something which
gives you the impression of the real thing sound, think about a Zyx
Universe. It is also a perfect match to your Arm. |
Dear Dreamauduio: +++++ " My system is quite revealing and prefers a bit warmer tone..... " +++++
I know very well almost all your system items but the Pulsare and the preamp and obviously your room.
I like the Pulsare design especially is fully balanced ( as the cartridges are. ) and is an active high gain design so no SUTs down there that always makes a heavy signal decgradation, my only concern with the Pulsare is that little high RIAA frequency deviation that for a SS design is " weird ".
I can't see where could comes/generatyed overall sound where you need a warmer audio link as the cartridge. The speakers/amps are IMHO of high resolution type but IMHO nothing that could needs warmer audio links, so something is not working in that whole audio chain.
In the other side and knowing that Oracle/SME always were marketed together and depending on the cartridge you own ( the Anna. ) I think that down there maybe you could achieve a different sound with a different tonearm that could match with the Anna one and with your system.
Depending on that tonearm IMHO every one of the cartridges name it here can shine in your system. I don't agree that the XV-1s is a " standard " one when in the right set-up it compete with any other top cartridge problem is that maybe what is a " standard " performer is the audio system of the person or his music/sound priorities yhat posted about.
Anyway, think a little on a different tonearm for your Oracle, it could be a nice alternative along your Anna.
regards and enjoy the music,
R. |
Hi lot's of great comments above...what arm cable are you running off your SME V? This is a critical spot...you do have a good cartridge...I've owned 5 lyras..so I might have a bias...
I killer arm cable might be your next move depending what you have today... |
Hi Jfrech. Im using Cardas Golden Ref XLR for my tonearm cable.
Your comments and thoughts are highly appreciated.
Thanks. |
Hi, I'd say you have a significant upgrade options available here. In the magnitude of a cartridge swap. Some tonearm cables I'd consider are:
Purist Audio Designs, Proteus Provectus Praesto
Transparent Reference w/mm2 or above
Cardas makes a GREAT cable for the money. Can't argue that. However for more money it can be significantly bettered. In your system, the tonearm cable off the SME V is arguably the most important cable.. |
... the tonearm cable off the SME V is arguably the most important cable. May I suggest to do a rewire first inside the SME Arm before spending a lot of money for the tonearm cable? It is well known that the SME inner cabling is nothing special and a rewire will give the most bang for the buck... |
Dear Dreamauduio: If you want to stay with your tonearm then the Syntax advise is a must to do it and the best way to improve that SME V. Btw, try to runs it in static balanced way and compare against its " natural " dynamic balanced design.
Regards and enjoy the music,
R. |
I am familiar with all of the cartridges you are considering. Before investing in new cartridges (or tonearm cable), invest some time and ask yourself a few questions...
1. Why are you considering a change, i.e. what do you hope to improve? If you change cartridges, you will get different, but not necessarily better.
2. Is your cartidge set up optimized? If you don't feel confident in set up, bribe a buddy with food and booze (after the set up). It is my experience that many (?most?) vinyl systems can benefit from dialing in the set up.
3. Is the rest of your set up optimized, i.e. cabling layout, clean connectors, speaker placement. See #1 & #2.
4. Ask yourself, would I rather spend the money on more music rather than equipment?
5. Find a way to audition each cartridge. Invest in data gathering which will ultimately be cheaper than purchasing an expensive cartridge that is not right for you. As an added bonus; you will increase your knowledge base.
6. If you reach step 6 and are still considering a change, my opinions for what it's worth...
The A90 has slightly sweeter high frequencies compared to the XV1-s. By comparison, the bass is different, punchier with the XV1-s, slightly better refined with the A90. The A90 is more forgiving with respect to set up. OTOH, other than the Colibri, no cartridge I've heard benefits more from 'spot on' set up than the XV1-s.
The Anna takes the sound of the A90 to a whole other level...deeper, better controlled bass, slightly richer mids and more delicate high frequencies. Is it worth the added investment?...that's a personal decision.
The Titan i is a great cartridge that I would rank with the A90/XV1-s level of performance. The Titan is between the A90 and XV1-s with respect to set up sensitivity and blends many of their best sonic attributes. I know some listeners who do not like the signature of the Titan high frequencies...again a matter of personal taste. If you are considering an Anna, the new Atlas should be a consideration.
Good luck! |
Dear Jazdoc: ++++ " do not like the signature of the Titan high frequencies...again a matter of personal taste. " +++++
yes and IMHO we have to add: cartridge/tonearm/TT/load Z set up and with which tonearm.
Your tonearm alone makes a difference in between all those cartridges and is a different tonearm than the SME V that Dreamauduio owns.
I think that he has some alternatives top improve its system quality performance where the tonearm is one important and critical about. Right now he decided for the Anna ( good!!! ) and needs to listen it in his today set up before any other change. Well only an opinion.
Regards and enjoy the music,
R. |
Wow. Those are all very nice & helpful suggestions. For the tonearm re wire which i am very interested , there is no person i have known here in Manila that do the tonearm rewire for an SME V. Maybe considering that re wire will change the sonic character of SME V arm and no technician available here to do so. For now i have elevated my interest in Mc Anna , PC1 supreme or Lyra Atlas. Hope u guys can share each carts strength & weaknesses. |
Manila does have a postal service. You could always mail your arm to a qualified SME rewire expert. This would be th first thing that "I" would do before investing in a $$$ cartridge. |
Some time ago I read something about rewiring SME Arms and that the
Factory offers that Service (their wire or what you supply) .... maybe you
can ask a Dealer about it. |
If Dertonarm is willing to do the re-wire for you than you can get the Takeda silver wire. You can write to me if interested and I will ask Dertonarm for you. |
If it were my system, I'd start by replacing the Cardas GR ( cardboard colourations in the upper mids ) & Transparent speaker cable ( hifi sounding, not natural ) with MIT Oracle right through, which optimises timing, coherence and harmonic structure rather than upgrading the cartridge. This will give you a better view on what your system can really do as is. |
Dream, there is a whole crew of pretty serious audio guys in Manila. They post on the What's Best Forum. You can reach out to them there for local help on rewiring, and avoid shipping issues. They are very nice guys and seem to be quite facile in what they do, lot's of DIY, too. I have no financial interest, just trying to make your life easier. |
Syntax is correct. SME in Sussex (England) does rewiring for its tonearms. At one time I had them rewire my IV.Vi arm, and they did an absolutely first class job. The man to reach at SME is Brian Laker, a very decent fellow. He will answer all your questions regarding re-wiring. |
In view of the advice that the factory does this, I would probably go that route, and not try to have it done locally, if you can give up the arm for a little while. |
YOU GUYS ARE ALL A BIG HELP TO ME. :-)
Thanks Very much for the wonderful comments and suggestions.
My A90 is already going 3 years old and about 2,800 - 3,500 hours used and still tracking pretty good but still i decided to let it go for an upgrade sound.
I have finally decided and ordered my MC Anna yesterday which the local dealer has accepted a trade in of my A90 and my Olive 04 for the Mc Anna.
I am now into PHONO CABLE hunting DIN-XLR.
I am considering the following cables :
1. Purist Audio - Proteus Provectus
2. Purist Audio - Corvus
3. Cardas - Clear
4. MIT - Magnum
My System to Match for the Phono Cable - Mc Anna Cart > SME V tonearm & Avid Pulsare Phonostage > Oracle Delphi VI TT > Transparent Ref Speaker Cable > MIT oracle power chords > Avid Pulsare Phonostage > Modwright LS36.5 Dual Mono Preamp > Pass Labs XA 100.5 monoblock > Dynaudio Evidence Temptation > Shunyata Hydra Line Conditioner. Room size is 5.0 x 6.0 mts.
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