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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 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.

ulcerdoc OP
68 posts
 

Thank you.  You certainly have contrasting cartridges in the Decca and the Benz!  The Decca is almost too real for my tastes in vinyl. The Benz seems very mellow.  The Hyperion fits right in the middle of your high end range and is intriguing to me.  I was never sure about the cactus needle cantilever.  I didn’t include it because it was outside the artificial price limit I set. What model of Hyperion do you have?

ulcerdoc OP
68 posts
 

Larsman

Thank you for your response. Can you comment on the Hanna Umami Red sound in your system and whether you think it might work for me over the others?

ulcerdoc OP
68 posts
 

dogberry:

BTW the SS Zephyr MIMC that I own and love is shockingly similar in character to the Hyperion mk II (albeit a little less open/airy).  Definitely a similar “vibe” and DNA.  Obviously no cactus spine.  So I could see progressing in that direction but was maybe hoping for some contrast. 

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