Cartridge Upgrade Advice:

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…

@ulcerdoc My Hyperion is an ES MkII, as I couldn't stretch to the MR version.

I have heard many people say good things about the Sussurro Gold, too. It's a Sussurro with an MR stylus.

 @ulcerdoc   I don’t have experience with any but one of those cartridges and no direct experience with your gear, but I can tell you my Lyra Kleos in my system meets your criteria.  It demands painstaking setup, but once dialed in, there’s less sibilant distortion than any other cartridge I’ve used over the last 50 years, and it’s very musical.

I have upgraded Apogee Duetta II full-ribbon speakers powered by vintage Classé Audio electronics with a SOTA Star Sapphire TT, and Eminent Technology ET2 tonearm.  I listen to roughly equal parts classical, classic rock and ambient/electronic space music and also various kinds of jazz.  I’ve made numerous comparisons of the Kleos with high-res streaming and CDs, and I think it’s fairly neutral with a touch more warmth in the lower midrange than my digital sources.  

Dear all

Thanks for the feedback!  It was very helpful.  Because of the moving sale, I spoke to Peter Ledermann directly.  I decided to go with the Hyperion MkII MR.  It’s above my limit (only but 50%) but after talking to Peter and with the sale price I couldn’t pass it up.

I’ll let you know how it sounds in due course.

"I decided to go with the Hyperion MkII MR.  It’s above my limit (only but 50%) but after talking to Peter and with the sale price I couldn’t pass it up."

Nice choice. 

At the risk of sounding like a broken record- yet again🤣 (mentioned this one a few times)I heard the Hyperion demoed by Peter. It was on a VPI HRX playing thru some small SS bookshelf speakers and SS phono amp.

He played a cut from my own copy of David Gilmour's debut album-Theres No Way Out of Here." 

1st time ever being blown away hearing small generic bookshelf speakers. It was the Hyperion showing off despite being seriously "compromised' not playing thru some giant floorstanders. 

It helped that my copy was a period "stamper-1st press"(another topic of discussion)

Even Peter was impressed-he wanted a copy to play instead of his usual collection of demo LP's!

Enjoy it. As long SS can keep those cactus spines in stock, you have a forever cartridge 👍