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Recs for a 2nd tonearm cart

Hi all
Currently my Steve Dobbins Garrard 301 plays on the right tonearm (Ortofon 309d) with a truly great Zyx Uni2.
The left arm (Reed 3p) has a VDH Colibri. I'm not too happy with the VDH and look for a great cart that won't play with the same characteristics as the Zyx but will give me something else. Trying to stay at around 3-4k$ new or used. All zyx uni2 owners - what is your 2nd great cart (but a different animal) ?
Thanks in advance.
icorem
sampsa55
71 posts
 
If the Miyajima would benefit from a heavier tonearm, you could put in the Ortofon and use a heavier headshell? The ZYX should sound great in the Reed.
rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
Dear icorem: IMHO the Colibri is a very good performer and has nothing to envy to other top cartridges as the ZYX.

Why you are not satisfied with?  did you returned to VdH after around 300 hours of play to fine tunning it? which are the frequency range or performance areas where you think is not up to your priorities against the ZYX?

In the other side the sampsa55 advice is a good one and you can test the Colibri in your other tonearm with different headshells.

I owned and own at least 4 diferent Colibri's over the time, no it's not a perfect cartridge but no one is. As everything in audio always exist trade-offs.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
icorem OP
146 posts
 
Raul

It's not that i'm totally against the Colibri but at some times I find it too bright to my taste and when it is good - it is too close to the Zyx Uni2 which I find much better overall.
I'm short some 100 hours from the 300 hour mark but i plan to utilize the 300h fine tunning service and maybe I will fall in love with it again...
I'm after a more romantic type of sound for my 2nd cart so it might be a Miyajima...
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