Best cartridges in the $2500 neighborhood...

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KeithR

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Hey guys- I'm looking to add a cartridge to my Brinkmann/Origin Live combo. Any suggestions?

I've been recommended Ortofon Cadenza and Lyra thus far. Lyra used to be fairly hifi/sterile as I recall, but not sure these days.

I was really surprised at how expensive cartridges have become! I can't fathom what goes into a 15k cartridge :)

Thanks,

Keith
 
I have a Benz LP-S that is not in use that I can let you have for $2500. It has ABOUT 100 hours on it.
 
I run the Ortofon Cadenza Bronze in an Origin Live Enterprise-C arm on a Nottingham Dais table. The combination is superb, with just a hint of warmth compared to the Cadenza Black. It tracks the groove with an unusually quiet background; most surface noise that I previously experienced with other cartridges is just gone. Beautiful and engaging is how I would describe its sound in my setup and it tracks like a dream. Highly recommended, although I just read that they may currently be in short supply due to some parts sourcing issues. If interested you could check on that issue with your dealer or Ortofon directly. Good luck with whatever you decide on!
 
Like Bill, I'll throw in a vote for the Ortofon Cadenza Bronze.

It really is a special phono cartridge that appears to work with many tonearms and phono stage setups and can be had for non-crazy money.
 
If the Transfiguration Axia has similar characteristics to the Proteus, just "less", it's right at your $2500 price.
 
ZYX Airy 3 is still in the ballpark. I would recommend the Silver, the Gold is too smooth and polite for my tastes. Don't let the name fool you. The images are nice and dense. It can pack a wallop.
 
MikeCh said:
Like Bill, I'll throw in a vote for the Ortofon Cadenza Bronze.

It really is a special phono cartridge that appears to work with many tonearms and phono stage setups and can be had for non-crazy money.
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My buddy Kurt at echo audio in Portland will sell you one of those brand new and I bet he would sell at a good price too.
 
JackD said:
ZYX Airy 3 is still in the ballpark. I would recommend the Silver, the Gold is too smooth and polite for my tastes. Don't let the name fool you. The images are nice and dense. It can pack a wallop.
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:thumbsup: I've had a number of ZYX carts, the Airy3 SB (silver base) will give you a big slice of the best they make. The SB vers adds about 3gms to the head shell and will mate better with a med. mass arm.
 
Lyra Delos and come under budget.

No longer sterile/hifi unless your system is. That was perhaps back in the day of the helikon.

cheers
 
Thanks guys for the opinions- my existing Zu-modified Denon 103 cart is on the warm side of things. I'd like to try a bit leaner, more dynamic cartridge to have some fun. I think that eliminates the Benz, Pearwood, etc. The Transfiguration Axis does not appear to be near as good as the Proteus and has lean bass issues according to Fremer.

I will check out Zyx, Lyra, and Ortofon.
 
KeithR said:
Thanks guys for the opinions- my existing Zu-modified Denon 103 cart is on the warm side of things. I'd like to try a bit leaner, more dynamic cartridge to have some fun. I think that eliminates the Benz, Pearwood, etc. The Transfiguration Axis does not appear to be near as good as the Proteus and has lean bass issues according to Fremer.

I will check out Zyx, Lyra, and Ortofon.
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I ran a Zu Denon 103 for a year or so (their earlier silver square model) and I agree, it was a great musical cart trending toward the warm side. It was a little sluggish with transients and not incredibly nimble or dynamic compared to the carts that followed it in my system....Dynavector 20X2H and Ortofon Cadenza. However, the Zu Denon was fun to listen to and it tracked surprisingly well.
 
I think you guys are thinking of the Transfiguration Phoenix-S, not the Proteus. The Phoenix sells for about $4200, the Proteus is about $6K. The original Phoenix was priced at about $3K but they upped it significantly when they made the new changes and called it "S".

Anyone have a connection for these at a discounted price - please PM me?
 
I'll endorse my own cartridge here, the Ortofon Cadenza Black. I think Ortofons in general punch above their weight class.
 
In that case, you may want to take a listen to the EMT TSD 15 or dynavector xx-2. I'm not sure what phono stage you're using but the emt works really well with a step-up transformer like the one from auditorium 23.
 
I'm also being recommended the 47 Labs Mcbee cart- anyone hear one? It's quite reasonable.
 
Jay said:
In that case, you may want to take a listen to the EMT TSD 15 or dynavector xx-2. I'm not sure what phono stage you're using but the emt works really well with a step-up transformer like the one from auditorium 23.
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Hey Jay - nice system you have there! Have you ever heard the Hegel H4SE?
 
Thanks mike. I haven't heard the h4se. The p20 / h20 combo was intended to be a tryout for Hegel. I've now had it for over a year and haven't really felt an urge to upgrade. Nice when that happens. If I did, I would probably just go for an h30. Do you think the h4se is a big step up from the h20?
 
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