Phono Cartridges - Your favorites and least favorites?

Mather said:
Unless you can get a Grade II or Grade II Prime then your ML will likely best anything else they send. And it still may best even those two. I still vote Event.
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Still, he has a Technics now and half the fun of owning one is swapping carts around. My XML is objectively better than my XEN, but the XEN often presents a more pleasing sound profile to me. Sometimes you want a quick change and a cart give you that.
 
Ghost said:
I'm so curious how much $1000+ cables take to actually make? Do you think the margins on them are just insane?
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Being a big cable guy, I'll be fully honest - cables do make a difference but not the massive difference you read about in reviews. And certainly not when you're just changing one cable.

HOWEVER, cables might help you squeeze out the last bit of performance in a system you already enjoy. And they can still benefit your system if you upgrade other components.

Like your current gear and want to max it out - try cables.
Like your current gear but can't afford the next level up - cables can potentially max out what you have.
Want a new sound, equipment is going to do more. Full stop.

I like cables because the next level up in my line of speakers is over $10K.

I also say to avoid paying full retail for cables. They don't really wear out, they are pretty durable, and they lose value faster than other gear. So in the situation we're discussing - it's the green light to try the cable(s).

*This is all my personal opinion based on my experience in my system as well as others. This is not based on science and I fully understand people have different experiences and different opinions.
 
Been listening to the retipped SAE for a few days now and...I have to say, I might like it more than the Zephyr MIMC Star ES. And I don't mean that as a slight against the Soundsmith.

The Zephyr has what I would probably say is the more accurate, precise presentation, but the SAE is full and rich and tonally lovely, while giving up very little if anything in terms of overall detail. The sound field is not quite as broad as the Soundsmith's, but the imaging is superb. Could not recommend the change more for other SAE owners present.
 
Ghost said:
I'm so curious how much $1000+ cables take to actually make? Do you think the margins on them are just insane?
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Dated info on my part, but back in the 90’s cables were between 60-75% margin for the retailer, and the prices were nowhere near as high as now.
 
Mather said:
Unless you can get a Grade II or Grade II Prime then your ML will likely best anything else they send. And it still may best even those two. I still vote Event.
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On my Blackbird I have the Benz Micro LPS on one tonearm and a retipped Zu/Denon DL-103 MK 2 on the other. Yes, the Benz is better across the board, and I still enjoy listening to the DL-103, especially with rock albums. Part of the fun is being able to go back and forth, with his table and arm/headshell he has the capability to do just that basically.

I’m a cable “believer” in as much as I’ve noticed varying degrees of difference between cables, but transducers and the room are the vast majority of what your system sounds like. I say he’d have more fun with the cart and wouldn’t be straining to hear differences.
 
SnowmaNick said:
On my Blackbird I have the Benz Micro LPS on one tonearm and a retipped Zu/Denon DL-103 MK 2 on the other. Yes, the Benz is better across the board, and I still enjoy listening to the DL-103, especially with rock albums. Part of the fun is being able to go back and forth, with his table and arm/headshell he has the capability to do just that basically.

I’m a cable “believer” in as much as I’ve noticed varying degrees of difference between cables, but transducers and the room are the vast majority of what your system sounds like. I say he’d have more fun with the cart and wouldn’t be straining to hear differences.
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That's very reasonable. Now if you'll just allow me to retort...
Mather said:
CABLES CABLES CABLES CABLES CABLES CABLES CABLES
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Alrighty...

The deed is done, I went for the cables. If I do receive them, I can't say I'm holding out to hear a massive difference or anything of the sort but cables are components I just don't see myself dropping more cash on so this feels like an easy way to set it and forget it!

Will 100% be dropping more cash on carts in the future and who knows, totally a chance I'd go for a Zu cart!
 
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