Systemic Development > Analog Devices
New Cartridge on the way
tmazz:
Steve the Carmen is most definitely a keeper.
As far as characteristics, this is the third cartridge that I have owned in the $1k price range (The other two being a Sumiko Blackbird and a Benz-Micro Gilder which were both about $200 more expensive and I think the Carmen is definitely the best of that bunch) I thought the Blackbird and the Glider were pretty
close in sound, but the Carmen beats them in the following respects:
1) it has better base response,which is not all that surprising considering we are comparing similarly priced moving coil carts to a moving iron.
2) The soundstage was a little wider and deeper, but the interesting thing about the way it imaged was that instruments tended to own the space they were in. The effect was not as prevalent with an orchestra, which has more of a continuous soundscape, but with something like a small jazz combo the individual instruments were not only clearly defined in space but also had more of a 3d image. Instead of sounding like a point source of sound emanating fro a spot on the soundstage the Carmen projected an image that sounded more like the instrument was coming from an area in the stage that had a sense of width height and depth to it, which is more like what you would hear in an actual live performance.
3) Finally the Carmen is the quietest cartridge I have ever owned. The dead space between songs and in the lead in and outro space were dead quiet. I am not talking about clicks and pops but rather the grunge that comes from dragging a stylus across apiece of vinyl even when it has no grooves. Not only was it nice to not hear noise between songs, but the lack of that grunge was also noticeable on quite sections of music and not having it constantly there removed a bit of veiling when the music was playing.
All in all I an very happy with the Carmen and think it is a great choice for anyone looking to buy a cart in that price range. And the fact that Soundsmith will rebuild the Carmen at any time for around $250 instead of the 75% of MSRP that other companies charge really made this an easy choice for me for a long term cartridge.
Nick B:
--- Quote from: tmazz on October 29, 2021, 05:49:57 PM ---Steve the Carmen is most definitely a keeper.
As far as characteristics, this is the third cartridge that I have owned in the $1k price range (The other two being a Sumiko Blackbird and a Benz-Micro Gilder which were both about $200 more expensive and I think the Carmen is definitely the best of that bunch) I thought the Blackbird and the Glider were pretty
close in sound, but the Carmen beats them in the following respects:
1) it has better base response,which is not all that surprising considering we are comparing similarly priced moving coil carts to a moving iron.
2) The soundstage was a little wider and deeper, but the interesting thing about the way it imaged was that instruments tended to own the space they were in. The effect was not as prevalent with an orchestra, which has more of a continuous soundscape, but with something like a small jazz combo the individual instruments were not only clearly defined in space but also had more of a 3d image. Instead of sounding like a point source of sound emanating fro a spot on the soundstage the Carmen projected an image that sounded more like the instrument was coming from an area in the stage that had a sense of width height and depth to it, which is more like what you would hear in an actual live performance.
3) Finally the Carmen is the quietest cartridge I have ever owned. The dead space between songs and in the lead in and outro space were dead quiet. I am not talking about clicks and pops but rather the grunge that comes from dragging a stylus across apiece of vinyl even when it has no grooves. Not only was it nice to not hear noise between songs, but the lack of that grunge was also noticeable on quite sections of music and not having it constantly there removed a bit of veiling when the music was playing.
All in all I an very happy with the Carmen and think it is a great choice for anyone looking to buy a cart in that price range. And the fact that Soundsmith will rebuild the Carmen at any time for around $250 instead of the 75% of MSRP that other companies charge really made this an easy choice for me for a long term cartridge.
--- End quote ---
Nice, interesting write up, Tom. Did you ever get a chance to ask Soundsmith regarding the loud bumpstop noise?
ACHiPo:
Congrats on the Carmen. I took a chance on a used Hyperion several months ago and it is by far the best cartridge I’ve ever heard. I also got the bug after watching Peter’s videoed speeches.
steve:
--- Quote from: tmazz on October 29, 2021, 05:49:57 PM ---Steve the Carmen is most definitely a keeper.
As far as characteristics, this is the third cartridge that I have owned in the $1k price range (The other two being a Sumiko Blackbird and a Benz-Micro Gilder which were both about $200 more expensive and I think the Carmen is definitely the best of that bunch) I thought the Blackbird and the Glider were pretty
close in sound, but the Carmen beats them in the following respects:
1) it has better base response,which is not all that surprising considering we are comparing similarly priced moving coil carts to a moving iron.
2) The soundstage was a little wider and deeper, but the interesting thing about the way it imaged was that instruments tended to own the space they were in. The effect was not as prevalent with an orchestra, which has more of a continuous soundscape, but with something like a small jazz combo the individual instruments were not only clearly defined in space but also had more of a 3d image. Instead of sounding like a point source of sound emanating fro a spot on the soundstage the Carmen projected an image that sounded more like the instrument was coming from an area in the stage that had a sense of width height and depth to it, which is more like what you would hear in an actual live performance.
3) Finally the Carmen is the quietest cartridge I have ever owned. The dead space between songs and in the lead in and outro space were dead quiet. I am not talking about clicks and pops but rather the grunge that comes from dragging a stylus across apiece of vinyl even when it has no grooves. Not only was it nice to not hear noise between songs, but the lack of that grunge was also noticeable on quite sections of music and not having it constantly there removed a bit of veiling when the music was playing.
All in all I an very happy with the Carmen and think it is a great choice for anyone looking to buy a cart in that price range. And the fact that Soundsmith will rebuild the Carmen at any time for around $250 instead of the 75% of MSRP that other companies charge really made this an easy choice for me for a long term cartridge.
--- End quote ---
Sorry for the response delay Tom as Sis has arrived for a visit.
Thanks for your review. Your cartridge review sounded very very similar to my experience with the Accutex 320STR in every area, except the thump at LPs end. The sound quality is outstanding and I don't even think of obtaining an mc or mm cartridge.
Thinking it over, the moving iron seems to have the advantages of both the mc and mm but not the disadvantages of
either.
Nice write up as well; clear and easy to understand.
Thanks again for your time and efforts Tom. Much appreciated.
steve
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