How Cartridges Fall Out Of Favor Over Time

Shelter is the one I  stuck with after Grado, Sumiko and a couple others I forget from 20+ years ago.  The Shelter plays my kind of classical based rock the best.  Strong bass and super clear highs on my SL1210 table with thr KAB re-wire and RCA connection.  Plus it tracks the most difficult passages with zero issues like no other I've had.  I'd love to get the Harmony version if I ever get brave enough to cough up the dough.  -John

One factor in the gradual relegation of certain brand names to the back burner, at least internet-wise, has been the introduction to the marketplace of many completely new brands over the last decade, even though many of those are actually made by Excel or other audio conglomerates that formerly built cartridges for the more familiar brand names, for example of a new player, Hana. Meanwhile, some of the best known and highly regarded brands have folded their corporate tents, like Koetsu, Kiseki, etc. (Never mind that some of those old names have been reintroduced by new entities who bought the rights in name only.) Thus it’s just a moving window that sheds light on what’s new.

Shelter is the one I  stuck with after Grado, Sumiko and a couple others I forget from 20+ years ago.  The Shelter plays my kind of classical based rock the best.  Strong bass and super clear highs on my SL1210 table with thr KAB re-wire and RCA connection.  Plus it tracks the most difficult passages with zero issues like no other I’ve had.  I’d love to get the Harmony version if I ever get brave enough to cough up the dough.  -John

I’ve used several Shelters and like them all - but some are more warm & "bodied" than others. I really enjoy the Accord (sadly discontinued) and 901 III for that. The Harmony is excellent, but at least the one I had was tilted more towards "pursuit of detail" and speed. It’s a little leaner in comparison to an Accord or 901 III. If they still sold Accord I’d buy another.

The 7000 is another one in the vein of Harmony, but the Harmony is a bit better overall (though I still really like 7000 too - it has some of its own charms). The 9000 tries to strike a balance in the middle, but perhaps I like the "personality" being more to one side or the other :) 

I rarely change cartridges unless they somehow come to grief.  I find one that I like the sound of and keep it for years.

At the moment I have three systems and use a Koetsu Urushi, a Lyra Clavis and a Goldring Eroica LX .

Current cartridges in rotation are ZYX Bloom lll and Ortofon MC 30 Super both retipped by VAS. Amazing… I may be living “in a bubble “ because I enjoy them so much but I don’t care…☺️