Cart Me Baby!
 

So if you followed my other thread, you know that I have ordered a Clearaudio Ovation turntable with a Universal arm. This will be paired with my Esoteric E-03 phono preamp and for the time being my Lyra Delos cartridge. While I quite like the Delos it is somewhat finicky and I’m considering alternatives in the $2 - $4G range. With so many choices and so little ability to try them out first, the question is which one? My musical tastes are eclectic, and I do listen to blues, jazz, rock and classical, but as I get older my listening trends towards acoustic instruments and voice (no electronica or hip hop for me). Think Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, or EmmyLou Harris and Steve Earle, vs. Metallica. So what say you - what would be on the top of your list? Why?

While I currently run an Ortofon Cadenza Bronze and am very pleased with its performance (the entire Cadenza line offers exceptional value) if I were looking for an upgrade in your stated price range the leading contender would be the Kiseki PurpleHeart N.S. which retails at US$3,500. If you do a quick search you'll find that it has received nothing but rave reviews, and I have it on good authority from a trusted source that it's the one to beat and performs well beyond its price and is competitive with some uber-priced carts.

ChrisAZ.......I have the Ortofon Cadenza Blue on a Micro Seiki turntable with the Micro Seiki m505 tonearm. I also have the Ortofon Cadenza Black on a Michell Gyro SE turntable with a SME309 tonearm. Both are serious performers but the Cadenza Black is absolutely mesmerizing. Highly recommended.

So two folks have Ortofon Cadenzas of various flavors. I've read great reviews of the line, particularly the Cadenza Bronze, which seems to mix the detail and transparency of the Black with some warmth that makes it a very musical cartridge. They also seem to represent fine value. Keep the recommendations coming!

While I'm a big fan of the Ortofon cartridge 'house sound', if I were to purchase another high-end cartridge I would seriously consider the AT "ART" cartridge. The 'Japan only' AT33R in my system is only a shade behind the Lyra & Ortofon, so am thinking the ART would be sublime.

Glenn - I’m assuming that you’re referring to the ART 1000. Problem is you’ve exceeded the top of my budget by $1,000 - it’s $5,000. At that price point I’d likely go with an Ortofon Winfield Ti and call it a day. That you for playing Let’s Make A Deal. :)

Based on this review it sounds like you’re spot on - https://positive-feedback.com/Issue7...urpleheart.htm. Same with this review, where the reviewer finds that the Kiseki trounces his own Lyra Kleos. Impressive. http://www.enjoythemusic.com/superio...dge_Review.htm. Other reviewers from Fremer to Dorgay felt the same way, with many buying a copy for their own system. Ooh, I’m getting itchy. ;)

I've owned the Cadenzda Bronze (actually, I still have one somewhere), and auditioned another one in my system as part of an Ovation/Magnify. It's definitely a bit warmer/fleshier sounding than I experienced with other Ortofons in that range (Jubilee, Windfeld MC, Cadenza Red). And I like that! But with your Ovation/Universal, I feel that there are significant performance gains to be had by pushing towards the cartridges at your $4K upper limit. As musical as the Bronze is (though still not as musical as a properly setup Koetsu!), you won't experience that last dose of detail and refinement with it.

If I were you, I'd keep the Windfeld Ti on your list. When I had the original MC some years ago, it was too lively/bright on my Fidelity Research FR64fx, but an amazing performer in most other respects (much better technically than a Cadenza Bronze). But my impressions of the Universal arm is that it's a less lively/bright sounding arm than my others (Graham Supreme, Fidelity Research FR64fx) and thus could be a natural match for the new, better damped Windfeld Ti.

Also consider that Ortofon has a very favorable rebuild program for its high-end MC cartridges -- especially while the Euro exchange rate remains in our favor! Most of their carts can be rebuilt (not just retipped) for at least 50% off list price.

Negotiate. :thumbsup: