It is important to find out where your phone stage starts getting noisy. If the cartridges output is too low, any benefits of the HOMC will just be lost. Everyone will react different. Every person has their own taste also.
In the '70s or '80s, they had a 4 channel LP system called CD4. Those cartridge had a higher limit to their frequency response. They came out with a new stylus shape around that time also. I remember giving it a try, and it was the worst investment for myself. I bought the Audio Technica CD4 compatible, the Empire 4000 series, and possibly another brand, to run this new 4 channel LP. Everything ended up being a waste for me. I even tried these in my other turntables, friends tried them, and they didn't want them either. They may be in the closet yet, as it couldn't be all the different turntable, arm, phono stage combination's mismatch. Others thought these cartridges were great.
So making sure the cartridge gets along with the arm, and preamp is important. The way it sounds is just someone else's opinion. I use all three of these types. They all could sound great, or poor.
In the '70s or '80s, they had a 4 channel LP system called CD4. Those cartridge had a higher limit to their frequency response. They came out with a new stylus shape around that time also. I remember giving it a try, and it was the worst investment for myself. I bought the Audio Technica CD4 compatible, the Empire 4000 series, and possibly another brand, to run this new 4 channel LP. Everything ended up being a waste for me. I even tried these in my other turntables, friends tried them, and they didn't want them either. They may be in the closet yet, as it couldn't be all the different turntable, arm, phono stage combination's mismatch. Others thought these cartridges were great.
So making sure the cartridge gets along with the arm, and preamp is important. The way it sounds is just someone else's opinion. I use all three of these types. They all could sound great, or poor.