1. Home
  2. analog
  3. 195979-209066

Cartridge Upgrade Advice:

Hi all — I’d love some guidance from this community on choosing my next cartridge upgrade.  I am looking for a “reference” cartridge that can “take it up a notch”.  Thinking $5k max range,

My current system:

  • Turntable: VPI Classic Signature HW with 12” tonearm
  • Phono stage: Manley Chinook (tube)
  • Preamplifier: McIntosh C2800 (tube)
  • Amps: McIntosh MC611 mono blocks (600 wpc)
  • Speakers: Revel Salon 2
  • Current cartridges: Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC ES, Denon 103 (beater), Miyajima Zero (mono)

Upgrade candidates I’m considering:

  • Kiseki Purple Heart
  • Soundsmith Sussurro Mk II
  • Lyra Kleos
  • Ortofon Cadenza Bronze
  • Hana Umami Red

Priorities: I listen to a lot of jazz vocals and large-scale orchestral, with some classic rock. I want resolution and refinement but without harshness, grain, or fatiguing sibilance. Musicality is just as important to me as detail retrieval.

👉 I’ve set up a short poll to keep things organized. Please vote and add your reasoning/experience: [insert link here]

Thank you in advance — your experience will help me (and likely others) make a more informed choice.

Q1. Which cartridge would you recommend for my setup?

  • Kiseki Purple Heart
  • Soundsmith Sussurro Mk II
  • Lyra Kleos
  • Ortofon Cadenza Bronze
  • Hana Umami Red
  • Other (please specify)

 

Q2. Why did you choose this one?

 

Q3. What speakers/amp/TT do you run, and what kind of music do you mostly listen to?

ulcerdoc
larsman's avatar
larsman
3,169 posts
 

I can just tell you about what's in my system, which is a Hana Umami Red. I chose it because I needed to replace a broken Clearaudio cart, which is the same distributor as Hana, it was recommended to me, I read reviews, and I got a $500 discount from trading in the Clearaudio, and I could afford it. Very happy with it, too.

Technics 1200G, Marten Parker Duo speakers, MSB S200 power amp, LTA MicroZOTL preamp, I listen to rock in all its forms, and reggae, almost exclusively, with some electric early 70's Miles Davis as well. 

larsman's avatar
larsman
3,169 posts
 

I should also add in a Herron Audio VTPH-2 phono preamp. 

dogberry
966 posts
 

Of your potential choices, I own two. The Cadenza Bronze did not last long on one of my arms, as it sounded nothing like the Kontrapunkt C I wanted it to replace (I ended up getting the KC re-tipped). The Sussurro MkII does not sound like either of those Ortofons: it is warm and musical rather than cold and clinical. I liked it well enough to step up to a Hyperion. The Hyperion is giving my other two favourite cartridges a run for their money (a London Decca Reference and a BM LP-S).

I use a tubed phono stage (NuVista Vinyl), pre-amp (Wyetech Ruby STD) and power amps (Quad II/forty), and electrostatic speakers (Quad 2905). Music is around 50% classical, and the rest is rock and folk rock.

If it means anything, I'd happily sell the Cadenza Bronze, but I'm keeping the Sussurro for when the Hyperion needs a re-tip.

More to discover