@bobheinatz,
FYI - Soundsmith has most of their upper line cartridges on sale 25% off, https://elusivedisc.com/search?search_query=Soundsmith. A nice benefit of Soundsmith is their ability to rebuild the cartridge to near new many times at a fraction of the new-cost, and the rebuild is a new stylus-cantilever-suspension. Makes those retirement $$$ go further, if the cartridge sound is to your liking. I heard a direct comparison between their top of line Hyperion vs a Lyra Etna - same turntable & arm (VPI HW-40) and all the same electronics (CAF-2018) playing a Louis Armstrong record. The Lyra made Louis Armstrong sound like he was playing Aspen, CO (crisp dry air) while the Hyperion sounded like he was playing in New Orleans (thick humid air). They both sounded great, but it all comes down to your taste. Otherwise, I own the Soundsmith Carmen and Paua, and these tend to be a bit sultry which is my preference, whereas the Sussurro and Hyperion is said to be more detailed. The web has review of just about all their cartridges.
Good Luck, and remember, every change that you make to your system makes what is old new again, and when retired you should have more time to listen. So, maybe if you budget/stage your 'improvements' you can keep that journey going throughout your retirement for many years to come.
FYI - Soundsmith has most of their upper line cartridges on sale 25% off, https://elusivedisc.com/search?search_query=Soundsmith. A nice benefit of Soundsmith is their ability to rebuild the cartridge to near new many times at a fraction of the new-cost, and the rebuild is a new stylus-cantilever-suspension. Makes those retirement $$$ go further, if the cartridge sound is to your liking. I heard a direct comparison between their top of line Hyperion vs a Lyra Etna - same turntable & arm (VPI HW-40) and all the same electronics (CAF-2018) playing a Louis Armstrong record. The Lyra made Louis Armstrong sound like he was playing Aspen, CO (crisp dry air) while the Hyperion sounded like he was playing in New Orleans (thick humid air). They both sounded great, but it all comes down to your taste. Otherwise, I own the Soundsmith Carmen and Paua, and these tend to be a bit sultry which is my preference, whereas the Sussurro and Hyperion is said to be more detailed. The web has review of just about all their cartridges.
Good Luck, and remember, every change that you make to your system makes what is old new again, and when retired you should have more time to listen. So, maybe if you budget/stage your 'improvements' you can keep that journey going throughout your retirement for many years to come.
