What in your opinion is one of the best cartridges out there?
 

I think this will be a fun thread.

The best I've heard is A95 by Ortofon, but i'm sure there are many many others.

I’ve heard a Lyra Atlas once ... it was pretty darn good. Hope to hear it again soon!

Agreed. I thought A95 was the best I’ve heard as well. I had the limited edition 1 of 500.

I'm well Happy with my Dynavector 20x2H.

:thumbsup:

However my intrest is piqued with this Hana.

:scratch2:

http://www.touchstone2c.co.uk/media/.../ee2f4c_l.jpeg

The Koetsu Coralstone is absolutely captivating. To be fair I've only heard the Ortofon Anna and A90 a number of times in other systems (not my own), but I didn't get that sense of captivation. The A95 looks interesting though! I'd rather own an A95 over the ugly bulky Anna, if just for cool factor alone. And the other Koetsu stones Onyx/Jade are very, very close, but the Coralstone is tops if even by just a hair.

I have a Koetsu Urushi Vermilion thats pretty sweet...

Carts
 

I have an Atlas on my Basis 2800/Superarm setup. Very natural, clean, tight bass. On the other hand the Haha SL continues to amaze me. Two price opposites

https://static.rogerebert.com/upload...WRHnEolxE1.jpg

;)

Correction, I had the A90 not the A95 so can't comment on the A95. I thought the A90 had the best midrange I have ever heard but obviously have not heard all the cartridges out there. It sure beat my before then favorite Dynavector XX2MKII which I thought was very good in the mids.

I love my Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation. It has beautiful tonality and very good detail retrieval. A lot of other high end MC cartridges I've listened to tend to sacrifice tonality for detail retrieval. This cartridge is like a pair of comfortable blue jeans. Always a great experience. Tom