A cartridge with more bite, please and thank you

Within my HiFi Group, there are periodically dedicated demonstrations of a Cart'.

The Ortofon Kontrapunkt B (Kb) is the Cart' used across a broad amount of users within the Group, and is the main spare belonging to the larger proportion of members.

The Kb' is used to compare other Carts' to as it is with attractive traits, but does not push too far with any frequency, Neutral and Transparent would be a reasonable description.

A Cart' recently demonstrated in a OL Illustrious Arm, is the Sumiko Pearwood with the Ultrafine Boron Armature and Ogura Styli.

To myself, these two materials being selected are the obvious choices to counteract the Rich Tones that can manifest from a usage of a Wood Body.

There is the choice of Magnet, that has an impact, as well the additional Aluminium used to create the Body.

This Cart' is seemingly quite capable of delivering the Rich Tone that the Japanese Designs are renowned for. 

It will be a long search to find the Richness of Tone Trait with this Cart',                    Deep Precise Bass, with a Truthful Tone to all frequencies, is the attraction that will be locked onto before any analysis is used to discover where the Rich Tone is manifesting.

It really does present in a manner that is worthy of a mention, my evaluation is that Sumiko have got much of their description on the money, it would have been more accurate if they come away from the use of 'Rich', as this is the known Japanese Trait, which this model in 'Mk II' version has detached from. 

@pindac It's true I lean towards mid range upper to lower and bottom end more than upper, at least in the extreme. And, as above, sweet/warm and smooth, but not in the extreme - which is where I'm on the edge of finding myself. So, ART9 has become a front runner based on other's experience with Ortofon still hanging in there based on so many apparent good matches with the Alphason.

Taking the Supratek Syrah into account, the builder has recommended the Denon DL103 in the past and, I believe, Shelter's 501 was based on that design? So, I imagined Shelter to be in the mix...

And what a mix - all these components and tastes. A big chunky delicious soup. Or maybe stew since it's winter and a stew sounds really good right now.  FWIW, I just finished listening to Muddy Water's Folk Singer and it sounded damn good. I think the VTA is getting close!

The search being so subjective in the end and relying on an intuition for reading between the lines, it's always fun and interesting as the collective experience starts to move in a certain direction away from opinion only as experience and evidence starts to mount. 

The only experience that counts is when you finally buy a cartridge and listen to it. The opinions of strangers have helped you to narrow your choices but in the end it’s in the listening where you’ll learn most.

@lewm  true dat

My Experiences are through visiting 'Gon', is that many items being considered by an OP are not ones I have a familiarity with, hence I don't make a suggestion for an item to be considered. Usually just an account of a usage of a device that has had a positive impression through usage, and a offer of support a OP to inform them there is a avenue worth pursuing.

The OP in this Thread has now described where they are with their unique preference for a presentation produced by a Cart', and the traits described, are as said previously to be found in a Selection of Cart's that are Tenfold on a list in comparison to Lean and Transparent as a description of a trait.

The OP's Phon' is valve based and it is hard to attain which level of Richness this is already able to depart into the presentation, if a SUT were to be used as well at some point, this will definitely add a Richness of Tone.

The OP is starting with a Rich Tone, it can easily be built on to become overbearing and starve other frequencies, that are said to be attractive. 

The Sumiko Suggested is one for the OP's list, if a hint of Richness being presented is to be detected.

If going down the Ortofon Route, as in the above the original PW-Windfeld is offering a presence Bass > Lower/Upper Mid, that is standout noticeable. When compared to other Ortofon's that are Trickle Down Technology Cart's as a follow on to the Windfeld, the  PW can be claimed to have a hint of Richness.

The presence of Bass and its impact on other frequencies is the deciding factor.      The usual outcome of a demonstration will reveal, the more Bass that is presented, is the frequency responsible for masking the upper frequencies.

I don't do A subdued presence of a Upper and Mid's for the sake of prominent Bass Note.

I would not rush in to a Purchase, I would get out and receive a few demonstrations of a few Carts' of interest. A home Demo' is even better, but attaining one can be met with difficulty.

In general forum members are willing to offer an assistance, but they are much more willing to remind one of where there are mistakes made. If a Cart' has really impressed in one System, and has not delivered the same experience in the home system, the learning and its value are already initiated, the path to discovering a further change of a device will be looming.

Buying Blind, on the assumption that the correct choice is being made, will be the most precarious way to part with up to $4000.