LONDON Decca, Tzar DST and similar cartridges

exlibris' use of "a revelation" is not hyperbole! The most immediate, present, alive, downright exciting sound I've heard from LP's comes from them being played by a Decca/London. Hearing a direct-to-disc LP played by one provides with as close to a live-feed (the sound of the musicians in a recording studio as heard through the monitors at the mixing desk, live and unrecorded) as I have heard. But I haven't heard the Zsar, nor am I likely to. Who has ten grand for a pickup?!

Just installed the Tzar DST. Everything I've read regarding midrange and treble is true. There is a rightness to the sound that no other cartridge I've owned can touch. Piano is to die for. Complex and loud jazz pieces are easily reproduced. Female voice is clearer than anything I've ever heard. There is no going back.

The first tonearm I used was the Kuzma 4Point. It has an effective mass of 13g. According to Frank Schroeder, this is too low. I will agree. There was a slight lack of base energy.

The second arm I used was the Schroeder BA (Broadcast Arm). This arm is specifically built for the DST. It's effective mass is 25g. Wow!, there's the base. If you're thinking of this cartridge, the arm is almost mandatory. If you already own a high mass arm, try to get this cartridge into your system.

One caveat, the base is clear and tight. It's like going from a ported speaker to a sealed version. The drums whack you in the chest, and then they stop, no overhang. I like it.

I'm green with envy, Billy. To get a Tzar (spelled it correctly this time ;-) of my own, that's what I need more of---green!

Hey bdp24. I have a very understanding wife. Maybe one day I'll tell her what I got?????

Being an old guy, with kids all gone and doing well, I can occasionally treat myself. I hope my beat up old pickup lasts a few more years. I'd hate to explain why I can't get another?.

And now a very important edit: with a slight VTA adjustment, and now 10 hours of playing time, both the bass, and the base, are amazing. Please disregard any reservations about the lower registers. My first impressions where premature.

I’ve received the DB Systems DBP-6 MC Phono Resistor Loading Kit and I can now load the Decca Reference at both 33k and 15k (both at  220pF).

I did some listening at 33k last night and will listen at 15k tonight.  

The kit is to be used for experimentation rather than as a permanent part of the system.  So far, there are some things that I don't like about the presentation (a little 'processed' sounding with less air, space, breath of life and aliveness to it -- like SS or digital as opposed to the analogue/SET experience I'm used to) but I'm not sure if that is because of the loading itself or because the signal is now going through some inferior wire, resistor, cap, and connectors.  Perhaps the components in the kit need to burn in(?)  
Having said this, there are definitely some huge sonic benefits that I'm hearing but I don't want to go into detail on those before I really get acquainted with the changes.