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
billstevenson
1,213 posts
 

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.

tlittlefield
29 posts
 

You can buy a low hour Koetsu Rosewood Signature for under $5000

I have one on my Pure Fidelity Harmony, highly recommended...

billstevenson
1,213 posts
 

I forgot, two of my TTs are VPI, an HW-40 and an HW-19 w/SME 3009 (two arms Series II and Series III which I switch depending on cartridge).  Set up using AnalogMagik.

vinylvin
163 posts
 

You probably already know this but Soundsmith is having a sale.

 

https://www.sound-smith.com/

kerrybh
690 posts
 

I can’t really vote because the only cartridge I have experience with is the cadenza bronze, which I own. based on your description of what you want, it seems that it would be a good match. It provides detail and resolutions,  but also a touch of warmth. More warm than the cadenza black, for example. Good cart for acoustic and female vocals. Typical Ortofon build quality. 

More to discover