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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
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
1,164 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
162 posts
 

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

 

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

kerrybh
668 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. 

cfarrow's avatar
cfarrow
127 posts
 

Keith listens to Audio Technica cartridges on his VPI tables. I have used all the above brands and most of the same models listed above.  I love the Miyajima cartridges and since found a lot of listening joy with the EMT cartridges. I have not cared much for the Ortofon’s unless they are SPU G or A type with Replicant 100 stylus. I took a flier on the Ana Mighty Sound from France cartridges and thought very highly highly of them as well, I value the traditional analog definition of sound vs the highly detailed treble tipped sound of some of the brands listed above.  The VPI tables with the right cartridge can have a nice weighty dynamic sound to them paired with the Herron phono.

Good luck with the search…

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