Recommended a highly resolving cartridge

"for a new price of nearly $7k it's wildly underwhelming."

$7K buys the top of the food chain  Audio Technica ART1000x

You would  get even higher performance than ART20 AND some pocket change for new LP's!

I do not know of a Cart' that has been sent to a selection of Third Party Services that have not been returned to the owner in a condition that failed to impress, the caveat being the Cart' from the outset was much enjoyed prior to being sent in to be investigated worked on.

It is difficult to say if a Cart' that was not able to impress from the outset, will be brought to a condition where the Cart's design is able to create a good impression, following the Third Party Service breathing their magic on it.

A rethink on the tension of the Tension Wire, or Damper material might create more in the upper most frequencies? If this were to manifest, I would assume much of the Tonal Richness would remain, but Bass may be a little more taut in the lowest notes.

Myself, I remain more keen to learn how the ART 20 develops with settlement through usage.

The King is Dead - Long Live the King 

To Rick:

Enjoy the ART20. It is a special cartridge. It will continue to go under the radar simply because any company which sells $100 cartridges can't be seriously accepted as excellent by those who think that excellence only comes with certain brand names. 

Trust your impression. Enjoy using it.

Rick is not the first Koetsu user to prefer the ART20. One Urushi Vermillion owner was apalled at how much more he preferred the sound of the ART20. Obviously he cherished being a Koetsu owner and was taken aback at the revelation that it was an impediment not an improvement compared to the ART20.

For anyone who hasn't heard the ART20 on a great turntable in a great system, this is one of those components which bring the listener closer intellectually and emotionally with the music in such a manner that the component distinguishes itself for the degree with which it accomplishes that feat. It joins the ranks of components which appear to remove an impediment from the listening experience that many other well regarded components seem to never remove. Seemingly putting the listener closer to the recording.

Lengthy listening session tonight where I was alone in the house = peak dbs in the 115's for hours! The ART20 is a world-class cartridge full stop. It's presentation, imaging, soundstage, clarity, bass, balance, extension, punch, value are unlike any package in a cartridge I've yet to hear. IMHO no serious audiophile with a collection of superb cartridges that each offer something worthy would be without this