2M Black vs Cadenza Bronze

I think you know the answer to that question

As were these….

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Excellent.

What's next on the cartridge list?

I must be psychic, read Oli's post and immediately thought Hana     Good choice by all accounts.

I had sort of made an unofficial decision after buying the Cadenza that was going to be the upper limit of spending on cartridges for me, barring a dramatic change of financial circumstances. I'll keep my eyes open for a s/h K-BGL. The only challenge with s/h cartridges, especially MCs, is having faith in the seller's honesty about the hours.

That's exactly the kind of rationalising that I like and that earns me a lot of sceptical/exasperated looks - "Really, darling,  it's cheaper if you think about it, because this one will last longer!"

That's a great price if the RSP is £6k new.

A retipping service for T'figs, has has ads for sorting other carts.

Good shout that Dave - found this online from Audiophilia 


Sound


The general quality of the sound—its ability to convey wide and deep sound stages, offer tight imaging and portray vocal/instrumental timbral accuracy—was commensurate with other fine cartridges I’ve heard at length or owned around the same price. My Rega Research Apheta 2 (a few shekels more) and Ortofon MC Cadenza Red Phono Cartridge (priced on par), chief among them. Each brings its own story to tell, both of significant musical value.



Like the comparisons offered, the Phasemation has a very refined presentation with a low noise floor and a beautiful balance among the octaves. And no matter the repertoire you prefer, the 300 gives you much of what you are looking for, superb ‘presence’ and musical immediacy.



The treble on the Rega—very much its strong point—sparkles a little more, and the Ortofon betters its Japanese counterpart slightly in instrumental separation (not imaging).



Bass? The PP-300 has both by the tiny nuts! The Apheta 2’s bass can be genteel, too much Victorian lady and not enough Sex Pistols. The Cadenza Red does not slam like more expensive models. But the 300’s bass is superbly defined. No bloat.



Two Classic Records reissues helped confirm my suspicions. Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 1 (LSO/Martinon/LSC RCA), a Kingsway masterpiece, has subterranean bass courtesy of London Transport rolling stock. I’ve heard it loud and ill defined. Also, very quiet but a more focused sound. This was outstanding—taut and heard very easily. Among the very best playbacks. And the very low, pp bass drum at the end of mvt 2 in Ravel’s Rhapsodie Espagnole on The Reiner Sound had superb definition. Very fine accounts.



Prosaic classical albums with less than legendary pressings, such as Philips and DGG, sounded very good, but no better than heard on a dozen other carts. An average record will sound average. The PP-300 is not a magic bullet. But, if quality information is there, you will hear it in full colour.



Low level information retrieval is spectacular for such a reasonably priced cartridge, better than both the Rega and the Ortofon. Even better than more expensive Clearaudio cartridges I've tried (eg. Concerto).



Because of the superb definition, I heard lots of information hitherto unknown to me, especially at the back end of percussion sounds. Sometimes, instruments unheard (but there while following a score), became clear via the 300. Another player in the section was simply too loud for lesser carts to decipher the underlying, complex sounds.



I loved the way the Phasemation conveyed visceral energy in performances. The woodwinds have a 'stretto' section moving upwards in a long crescendo from pp to ff in the opening movement of the Shostakovich mentioned earlier. Heard hundreds of times, I'd never felt the energy coming from the players as they intensified their sound to get the appropriate 'stretto' effect.



When the energy level was at 'notice me' levels, like the opening of Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love from Led Zeppelin II, the cartridge was happy to rock the night away. Macro dynamics are a non issue for the 300. Play as loudly as your amplification, ears and neighbours will allow.



Where the price of the PP-300 tells its tale is with translucence and subtlety. Low level information retrieval is outstanding, but more expensive carts shed the most beautiful, diaphanous light upon quiet layers. As such, the midrange is a little 'thicker' than you'll hear from the very best. I'd bet the farm, the PP-1000 sorts that out at $1700 more.



Summary



I was very impressed with the PP-300. It looks amazing, has a bass wallop that plays well above its $1799 price (but in total balance with the upper octaves), retrieves information and stored musical energy like a demon, and has a very refined musical spirit. In audiophile, musical and value terms, it is an irresistible bargain. Very highly recommended.