Your Favorite Cartridge Maker(s)? (pick three)

Just curious as to who are ppls' favorite cart makers and why.

Would think the picks will center around preferred 'house sound', price-performance ratio, being forgiving of bad records/recordings, reliability/durability, lack of IGD/sibilance/noise, ease of set-up, customer service, the 'aspirational' aspect (heard one, loved it, can't afford it but it's a definite future buy), and sentiment/history (first good cart you owned, etc).

But are there other major issues/parameters for you? How do you personally pick a cart?

Poll allows for three different picks... thanks.
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I'm curious how many of the above mentioned brands really makes cartridges/needles from start to finish, and how many just put their logo and design requirements to Audio Technica to produce them.

 

*stares at Clearaudio*

(their bottom MM)
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I've not heard them all but if the ones I have...Lyra, dynavector and ortofon are my choices. Good stuff across their brand, no clunkers

 

I have the same to say about Soundsmith, Dynavector and Ortofon.

 

I am sure my favorites might change if I had owned more brands. I wouldn't think favorite and best are the same, so brands that make a large range across many price points and technologies (Ortofon, AT, DV, etc) would have an edge here.

 

Ortofon
Dynavector
Koetsu

Regards

 

Empire

 

Geez. Ortofon's completely runnin' away with it so far.

 

I've not heard the soundsmith but based on the rebuild they did on my Lyra, I would have to agree.

 

Some of the best trackers in the business IMHO.

 

And since they are holding down the $100 - $200 range, more people have it than about anything else.

 

I suspect one of the reasons for this is that so many new turntables come with Ortofon cartridges. Further, if a new TT does not come with a cartridge, many dealers will simply offer it with a 2M Red by default.

I'm not saying they don't make good cartridges, but this is a big reason.

 

Ortofon for me.

I have owned a 2M Black for 3 years and it suits my modest system perfectly.

I never grow tired of listening.

 

Hmmm!

 

I'm partial to Shure's and Ortofon emphatic-sounding Dj carts.

 

Yah, and I don't entirely get that. Ortofon does make good stuff, but it's not like the Red sonically dominates its particular price class. There does seem to be several carts that are as good or better at that level.

Perhaps Ortofon just offers dealers and TT makers higher margins/better pricing on the Red than competing cart makers do on their stuff? Dunno. Again, not hatin' on Ortofon. Just seems like the Red is one of their less-dominant carts sonically, yet it's still on everything.
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Important omission, EMT.

 

Marketing. Plain and simple.

 

At first I picked Ortofon as one of the three but after thinking about it every one I have owned has had something about the sound that wasn't quite right in the long haul. No staying power.
Interestingly enough one of my favorite cartridges is not on the list and cannot be purchased- it is a franken-cartridge made from a Dynavector body with a Soundsmith cantilever and stylus. Sounds incredibly better that the stock DV.

 

Which body was that?

 

Love Ortofon, I have OM Super 5E,10&30 and Quintet Blue

Enjoy AT95, 120 and AT-OC9ML/II

Loving my Apheta 2 on RP8

 

DV20X2L

 

Since I'm a budget-minded listener I have played around with Grado blue, Ortofon Red and Blue, Shure m97xe, AT95e and own the AT91, although I have not actually used that last one. I'm intrigued by the current rage surrounding Nagaoka carts and may buy a MP-110 at some point soon. I'm also now interested in the upgrade paths available through styli for the Grado and Shure carts. Lastly, I often read good things about the Denon DL-110 and may give that a whirl at some point soon. Beyond those, I'm not sure my equipment would support better carts and am very sure my wallet would not be happy with larger purchases!

 

Another vote for Empire. Probably the most lamented casualty in cartridge manufacturers. If any of the folks behind that brand are still alive, they must be shaking their heads at the enthusiasm for this long-gone brand.

Cheers,
Larry B.