Aidas Cartridge

On the topic of repairs; Aidas Cartridges does repair, cantilever/stylus replacement and full rebuilds on all their carts. A nice feature imho versus a trade in program.

I am going to need a better paying job.

They have a striking similarity to a naked Denon dl103

@gakerty 
 

Tracking on the Aidas is on par for a LOMC, perhaps a bit better than the Benz.

Can you please dumb that down for me as to what I would hear with a poorly tracking cartridge?

I think I have an idea with sibilance, but I am not 100% sure.

Based on the Hifi News test record, the first tracking test is the "Tracking Ability 1 (300Hz L+R At +15dB)". Seems on my system a typical LOMC present SLIGHT distortion or a warbling tone on this. Previously a Lyra Delos sailed through it, and of course vintage MMs have no problem. On real music, I test with high peak piano, in which there’s a combo of sibilance and distortion on those quick note peaks. Yuseef Lateefs Eastern Sounds first track has a few of those quick high level piano peaks, and that’s a good test for tracking IMO.  My current Aidas has no problem in this regard.