Hi TheLiZ / Gaius,
Why of course I'm going to speak my piece on said cartridges - as Gaius has pointed out, I'm a fan - but that's simply because I started looking at vinyl as it once was appreciated - for offering up that warm - rich - textured - mellow as well as addictive sound as heard during the 1970's into the late 80's.
Afterwards it became more of an emphasis on sizzling top end and this or that fake arse nonsense about hearing which paper an artist was on during a recording session - or did you hear how clearly the rain drops could be heard in the background BS!.
I've been following these cartridges since 1989, and have owned 6 over this period - as much as I've tried to love some of the more modern cartridges like the original Lyra Lyrian Beta along with the Dorian Mono - Audio Technica OC5's and OC7's - Monster Cable Alpha 2 - Shelter 501 MK II ( seen as the poor man's Koetsu here in the states ), I've always and I mean always been drawn back to that old school lushness that any given Nagaoka has brought to the table.
It's as if a warm butter knife has pierced my very soul - as I'm more into texture and/or tonality as opposed to what I call " the Hi-Fi Effects ", I focus my attention onto things that simply put sound right - good - bad or indifferent for that matter!, but it has to play the notes/tunes in a manner that draws my attention away from this or that piece of hardware ( because in this case - that's what you're listening to after all as opposed to the Music itself ) and focus my attention on the notes - how they're played - how natural they sound - and ask myself things like does it sound real?, is it emotional causing me to become affected by the artist intention?, were they in a good mood while recording this session?, did they have a bad day?, did they get paid fairly for making the recording? ( because of an artist got joe'd money wise!, they didn't play up to their best - as is the case with many recordings by Miles Davis or Charles Mingus ), or why am I crying?, laughing?, what to dance?.
Yes - it might sound weird as hell - but ask yourself these simple little questions as you're sitting there in front of someone's highly prized and often times analytical $5.000 - $10.000 cartridge and catch your response to what's going with your body functions and not just what's going on through your ears - I'm willing to wager that over 97.9 % of the time you'll begin to find yourself bored as hell and thinking WTF!, and wonder if these guys even have a clue what music should sound?, in said cases these are guys whom buy with their wallets chasing the status quo - the designer tags on said components - Class A ratings based upon a review by a guy getting paid to sell said review ( yet, not all reviewers are dishonest ), but you'll be able to spot them by using this method -
They claim that this or that product is the best thing since sliced bread - and if that's truly the case - said products would be found which the content of their systems would they not?,
Just check the side bars to see what I'm getting at.
Bottom line - ( see there I do know how to cut it short ) is cartridges that place as emphasis on the midrange are seen by some as antique - dated technology - pipe and slippers ( as you guys put it ) for old farts that are heading to the nursing home sort of mindset........, well I'm here to tell you one thing whether you agree or not?.
Ask some of these reviewers like Art Dudley why they select cartridges that were in fact built around these out dated technologies by designers of Grace - Grado -Miyabi - 47 Labs - - Denon or Miyajima - because they play tunes/notes - not effects.
I've spoken my piece and now it's time to leave the building.
Take note of what's what?, you can buy into the BS mindset that resolution is what's up!, if you like - but give me warmth - texture - tonality - midrange and emotion.
Regards - and an open-minded thinker and " Music Lover ".
scar
