I has been looking for a vintage cartridge that is warmer, smoother and more forgiving than my current cartridge, a very transparent and revealing (but not overly bright) Signet TK7e.
This cartridge must also be musically involving, with nothing that will overtly detract from its engagement.
I believe that the original Koetsu Black, classic Ortofon SPU series, and several of the top stereo cartridges made up to 1965 produced the general type of sound I am looking for, but I also require an unfailing level of high frequency purity and refinement that most vintage (and modern) cartridges fail to possess (my ears are very sensitive to it).
If I had the money, there are a few top end cartridges that may suffice (I like the Air Tight Opus). But I am very poor these days, and would like to find a used cartridge that gives me this level of "musical" refinement for under $500.
I have been looking at the Supex SD 801/901 series, but don't know if they can deliver enough of the above requirements to significantly better my Signet, which is about as good as a vintage MM cartridge that I have heard, despite being rather unforgiving of less than perfect recordings.
This cartridge must also be musically involving, with nothing that will overtly detract from its engagement.
I believe that the original Koetsu Black, classic Ortofon SPU series, and several of the top stereo cartridges made up to 1965 produced the general type of sound I am looking for, but I also require an unfailing level of high frequency purity and refinement that most vintage (and modern) cartridges fail to possess (my ears are very sensitive to it).
If I had the money, there are a few top end cartridges that may suffice (I like the Air Tight Opus). But I am very poor these days, and would like to find a used cartridge that gives me this level of "musical" refinement for under $500.
I have been looking at the Supex SD 801/901 series, but don't know if they can deliver enough of the above requirements to significantly better my Signet, which is about as good as a vintage MM cartridge that I have heard, despite being rather unforgiving of less than perfect recordings.
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