Moving coil cartridge advice needed


A friend recently acquired a VPI Aries turnable with JMW Memorial arm and asked my advice on a good but not outrageous MC cartridge, say around $1,000.

He has a phono pre that will support the lowest output cartridges. He listens to a broad range of popular music, although I've gotten him sampling some jazz and classical lately. Accuracy in soundstaging and transients, deep well controlled bass and good tracking are important.

Ones which came to my mind - Benz Micro (Ref 2 silver, L2, Glider L2), Clearaudio Sigma Wood, Dynavector Karat 17D2 Mk II, Lyra Lydian Beta and Shelter 501. I've only heard the Dynavector personally (excellant cartridge, IMHO). Read that the Benz's are very "warm", which if true, may not be optimal given his listening tastes. Comments on these or
other recommendations most appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Doug
grandpad
Doug, the Clearaudio would actually fit your specification IMO. The others I'm not familiar with. Cheers,
Hi Doug. You have some nice cartridges to pick from there. IMO, the Shelter 501 and the Lyra Lydian Beta, are the 2 best carts on your list. Unfortunately, neither of them is suitable for a unipivot tonearm like the JMW. If I were going to pick a cart for the JMW from your list, it would be the Dynavector 17D2. I am not wild about the Clearaudio. The Benz Glider would be my second choice from your list. You should stay in the higher compliance range for a unipivot arm. That is why the 501 and Beta won't work well for him.