I'm chickening out and returning the Ortofon Black LVB. There is just too much "what-if's" about this to sit comfortably with me.
At the age of 67, I got back in to vinyl a year ago, when I dug out my TT from 1978, a SL-23 Technics, slapped a $100 AT-VM95M on it, replaced the belt and my jaw dropped at the results. I use a McIntosh C-42 pre with a MC-7200 McIntosh Amp to B&W 702 Signature speakers; OPPO 205 for digital front end. Somehow, I managed to save most of my records from growing up and moving all over the Country, don't ask me how; and most of them turned out to be in great shape. Vinyl simply sounds better in my system, so I fell back in love.
Now, a year later, found a great deal on a mint/new Ultradeck and grabbed it, but no Cart. Because of that deal, I am in a position to spring a $1,000 for the Black LVB and have heard amazing reviews on it. I didn't realize until after the Ultradeck purchase that the weight of the tone arm was so high and therefore, potentially limiting in the MM carts I could select. Despite the reassurances, I believe I'm trying to fit a square peg in a round hold and not comfortable with that.
I'm going to return the LVB and now deciding whether to spend the $800 on the Master Tracker, or $500 on the Sumiko Amethyst, unless there's another compatible MM Cart you think would surpass both of those. Clearly, either of those choices on an Ultradeck is going to BLOW AWAY what I am currently using; I think.
Your feedback and patience is greatly appreciated.