Must admit that like you I truly enjoy the sound of my Shindo Monbrison and Cortese! I have also heard many other hi end components and speakers, some I quite like, many not so much. They may be amazing to others and I am sure they are built with good intent to be what's best in their particular price range but many are not what I enjoy. I don't think I have any particular insight on what is best or most realistic it's just my opinion. Some would agree others wouldn't!
Like you I have been on a quest for a turntable that would honour the Shindo motif but also stand with the finest modern tables available. I think I may have found one, more to come as it just arrived.
Time for an update.
The Artisan Fidelity Garrard 301 with a GrooveMaster iii and Ortofon SPU Classic GE Mk II has really complimented and enhanced the sound of my system. At this point I am thoroughly enjoying the sound of the SPU. I love the broad brush soundstage and its ability to delineate vocals and instruments! While it probably lacks the finer detail and precise sound staging of today's best cartridges it has a dynamic and real sound. I plan to pop on my Hana Umami Red sometime but right now every well known album I put on offers me a new and entertaining insight into the music, so I am in no hurry to change cartridges. This seems to be especially true of lps from the 70's both popular and classical. Of course I expect that the Garrard 301 and GrooveMaster are also major contributors to the sound, something I expect to confirm when I eventually try the Hana.
I still have my BrinkMann Bardot which I consider to be an excellent table but unless I find more modern cartridges do not perform well on the Garrard and feel the need for two working setups I can't see keeping it.
A few additional insights.
Although my Icon SUT sounded OK with the Ortofon I suspected that it could offer more so I purchased a Ned Clayton SUT with variable settings. The 1:40 winding ratio with a 30 ohm primary load really dialled the cartridge in! Very happy for now but the SUT thing probably requires further exploration.
With the Hana/Bardo setup I had my speakers in a near field listening setup as I found that it complimented that cartridge . The change to the SPU/Garrard sound had me thinking about changing that, just a hunch really. I am particular about setup and find that different speakers and sometimes even equipment improvements excite the room differently. So ala Jim Smith I moved my speakers back slightly and further apart to get the right ratio from my listening seat. My speakers are relatively easy to move and after a little fine tuning and very slight toe in the sound just locked in better than ever.
The Artisan Fidelity Garrard 301 with a GrooveMaster iii and Ortofon SPU Classic GE Mk II has really complimented and enhanced the sound of my system. At this point I am thoroughly enjoying the sound of the SPU. I love the broad brush soundstage and its ability to delineate vocals and instruments! While it probably lacks the finer detail and precise sound staging of today's best cartridges it has a dynamic and real sound. I plan to pop on my Hana Umami Red sometime but right now every well known album I put on offers me a new and entertaining insight into the music, so I am in no hurry to change cartridges. This seems to be especially true of lps from the 70's both popular and classical. Of course I expect that the Garrard 301 and GrooveMaster are also major contributors to the sound, something I expect to confirm when I eventually try the Hana.
I still have my BrinkMann Bardot which I consider to be an excellent table but unless I find more modern cartridges do not perform well on the Garrard and feel the need for two working setups I can't see keeping it.
A few additional insights.
Although my Icon SUT sounded OK with the Ortofon I suspected that it could offer more so I purchased a Ned Clayton SUT with variable settings. The 1:40 winding ratio with a 30 ohm primary load really dialled the cartridge in! Very happy for now but the SUT thing probably requires further exploration.
With the Hana/Bardo setup I had my speakers in a near field listening setup as I found that it complimented that cartridge . The change to the SPU/Garrard sound had me thinking about changing that, just a hunch really. I am particular about setup and find that different speakers and sometimes even equipment improvements excite the room differently. So ala Jim Smith I moved my speakers back slightly and further apart to get the right ratio from my listening seat. My speakers are relatively easy to move and after a little fine tuning and very slight toe in the sound just locked in better than ever.
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