[James Romeyn]

TT is Bill Berndt/Empire 208 pictured in other thread.  Arm coming is Rega 251 tube/rest/lift installed in Jeff Spall upgrade kit (brass tower, carbon fiber bearings w/ adjustable tension, etc, etc).    Owner/user arm pics at this link: http://www.audiomods.co.uk/armsinuse.pdf  TT is close to state of the art; appears the arm will be also. 

Just in case my Strain Gauge can not be resuscitated (will find out this week), seeking comments on the following cartridges, none of which need a step-up.  Prices from $600-$1k. 

Ortofon 2M Black mm, 5 mV, TAS Best of Analogue

Soundsmith SMMC1 (Moving Micro Cross), 2.1 mV, specify medium compliance for arm compatiblity (high compliance also available), Sphile 10/08 RC Class-A

Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood mm, Sphile 10/08 states "best up to $2500" (BJR)

Clearaudio Maestro Wood mm, Sphile 10/08 states “Best mm” (MF), TAS Short List 1/09

Lyra Dorian H.O. mc, .6 mV, Sphile 10/08 “best cartridge at this price” (MF), TAS Short List 1/09 “clean, musical”

[TomSV650]

Ortofon 2M Black, no question. Give it sometime to break in though.....

[2002ss335]

I saw that arm about 6 months ago, but never did anything but look (It is pretty). I hope that you post your impressions when you get it. With the exchange rate being what it is now the price is attractive.

I cannot comment on your cart. list because I have not heard any of them. I have a re-wired & tricked out RB300 with a Shelter 501 II. I had to add some weight to the headshell to get it to sound its best and the effective mass of your arm I would guess to be lower still.

Regards,
Todd

[JCC]

The Soundsmith does excellent retipping and their cartridges have an outstanding reputation. My experience with a retipped ZYX has been outstanding. Based upon the reviews and my personal experience, I would go with their products.

[TheChairGuy]

Very purdy, Jim.

But, as this is a backup to your strain gauge - don't spend a lot. 

$79 or so will nab you a NOS ADC XLM Mk. II from www.soundsunique.com

Just speak to Mike (the owner) - he should still have some.  So long as these are around and your arm is not too weighty ( I assume your re-worked arm is no more than the 12 grams of the Rega 250??) then this is hard to beat up to $300+ and more in today's market of largely overpriced offerings.

He has (original) replacement styli, too, best to buy one along with it to have for awhile.

John

[TONEPUB]

I've got a virtuoso wood...

Not bad, but I wouldn't say better than anything up to 2500.  Wish cartridges didn't cost so darn much!

[AliG]

Hi Jeff, how does the Virtouso wood compares to Dynavector 17D3?? I'm not asking for which is better, I'm asking for the sonic differences.

I've got a virtuoso wood...

Not bad, but I wouldn't say better than anything up to 2500.  Wish cartridges didn't cost so darn much!

[Berndt]

Jim, the bearings are ceramic, not CF.

[stone deaf]

I had the Clearaudio Maestro and it didn't excite me that much. A friend of mine has a SoundSmith The Voice that is very nice. I really like my Grado reference master which can be had for under $1000 if you haggle a bit.

[hifitommy]

an ortofon Kontrapunkt b from juki in hong kong might be just the item.