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:
Upgrade candidates I’m considering:
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?
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 - Hi there Doc! I wish I could, but all I can say is that it has much more presence in my room than my previous Clearaudio, which was a Charisma II MM. I have no idea how it would compare with the others, and that would be so largely gear- and room-dependent that even if I'd had them all on hand, they might sound totally different in your setup and listening environment. Let us know what you decide on! |
If you can find a SoundSmith Hyperion, maybe used, that would be my first recommendation. The Sussaro, maybe, but I agree with tablejockey that you should seriously consider the ART20 instead of any on your list. I like mine a lot, have used it in both my all C-J system (ART Phono, ART 88, and ART 27A) which is tube, of course, and in my Marantz system (PM10) with a PS Audio Stellar phono stage, which is solid state. It hits way above it's weight, like all Audio Technica cartridges, it competes with Japanese boutique brands costing 2x-3x it's ~$3K price. I would characterize it as smooth, neutral, excellent tracking, low distortion. Very easy to listen to with no bad habits. |
