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Looking for a New Cartridge

I have a VPI Prime signature. I have a Koetsu black goldline and never thought it was a great match compliance-wise. I confirmed my suspicions when I purchased an Ortofon quintet black as an interim/backup cartridge. It really sings from top to bottom and was much easier to dial in, where the Koetsu required constant adjustment (don't ask me why).

I have the itch and am looking at the Ortofon cadenza Black (don't think Bronze because of my sonus Faber speakers), kiseki purpleheart and I was offered a deal on a lightly used air tight mc1 Supreme which I don't know too much about. Another suggestion was the air tight pc-7 which is impossible to audition.

Looking for suggestions/recommedations

Thank you all and have a great holiday. 


soundwatts
soundwatts OP
186 posts
 
Browndt thank you. I also think that the soundsmith is a little not to my liking. I will see where I can audition the VDH. The problem with buying a new cart is it is a blind purchase most of the time. I am in the NY tri-state area and find it hard even here to find a retail store that has more than a couple of cartridges set up. Unless you have a friend that has what you are looking for already it's tough 

My journey continues.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
My Kiseki and former Koetsu Black Gold Line were too low in compliance for most of the unipivots and medium effective mass arms that I tried them with but did not try either with a VPI. Morch yes, Audiocraft and Grace as well. They seemed to like a high mass, captured bearing arm or something like a Well Tempered arm. YMMV and, as with all things analogue you will get a range of opinions on this. 
paulcreed
110 posts
 
Just received Music Direct brochure in mail today they are doing 50% of all soundsmith cartridges, if I didn't have 2 SS and broke after Christmas I would buy one.
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