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Sota+SME IV=Ugh !!!

Greetings,
I’m driving myself crazy, once again! I’m trying to determine which of the below wood body cartridges will give me the warmest, richest, and most romantic sound. Detail and attack are secondary. I listen to a lot of female jazz vocalists, and classical music. My room is rather bright (a lot of glass and hardwood flooring).

My components:
Sota Star Sapphire w/ SME Series IV
Conrad Johnson Premier 16 pre, Premier 12 monos, CJ’s EF1 Phono pre
Tannoy Turnberry Speakers
Stealth PGS I/C’s
VandenHul Bi wire

My Options for a cartridge:
Clear Audio Maestro
Grado (Reference or Sonata)
Benz SH Woodbody
As suggested…

Want to stay with wood body and around $1,000 - $1,400 in cost. Thanks so much for any opinions put forth!
rbschauman

Showing 2 responses by jtimothya

jtimothya
612 posts
 
Interesting ...

Circa 1986 the SME V debuted on the Star Sapphire. It made the cover of Stereophile and J Gordon Holt *really* like it. The table was voiced with SME arms. You might contact the SOTA folks in Illinois for their thoughts.

I'd pick the Sonata.
 
jtimothya
612 posts
 
Nice to read your update on the SME+SOTA combo. As another data point, I used a Sonata on a SOTA Sapphire + Sumiko MMT arm for a year with no problems, hum or otherwise.
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