... after more listening experiences and SUTs swapping were almost complete...
The winner (unsurprisingly) is WE 618B...
I tried Peerless 4685, Harman Kardon XT-3, Soundaries Audio 618 replica... all listening sessions were made with same record - i.e. Sidsel Endresen's "So I Write", her first on ECM, using Kaneda/Le Solstice phono preamp, Partridge 300Bs mono blocks and Tandberg Tip11 on Foundation Design stands.
I tried Peerless 4685, Harman Kardon XT-3, Soundaries Audio 618 replica... all listening sessions were made with same record - i.e. Sidsel Endresen's "So I Write", her first on ECM, using Kaneda/Le Solstice phono preamp, Partridge 300Bs mono blocks and Tandberg Tip11 on Foundation Design stands.
... but the real winner is the DaVa's, folks!
It's so nice, relaxed, full sounding, light on details and extremely slamming on low end.
The shimmering cymbals so masterfully recorded on a.m. ECM's disc are going and going for seconds, with right weight and trueness.
Listening it effortless, liquid, smooth, natural.
In the very next hours will swap from smaller system to Gotorama, connecting Siggwan/DaVa/Lenco G88 to Misho Myronov mighty phono-stage and Mayer line-stage, straight to Goto crossovers, WE421A amp and Gotorama.
I expenct multiple orgasms: it's like Lumiere, only less nervous... same as my best Neumann DST "white whale", but safer for discs and... wallet if something goes wrong.
It's a dream cartridge which, IMHO, goes straight on the Olympus of the Very Top, ever!
The cartridge, fed by its PSU with 12V, get cutely warm on outer body after a couple of hours listening/use.
Darius told me he reachers 60C degrees... but Cocobolo wood is a rock!
I'm sincerely and positively impressed by overall sound, considering it's a brand new cartridge.
A masterpiece!
Stay tuned for more on Gotorama.