10/22/18 Price drop to $350.00.This is my long time back up cartridge with less than 200 hrs. since getting the Sound-Smith Level 2 Re-Tip (Ruby cantilever with Nude Contact Line Diamond). It has proven to be very competitive with every cartridge in my system before being displaced by my most recent primary cart, the $1100. Audio Technica ART-9 (also for sale in a separate ad). The Virtuoso Wood evidences many of the attributes of good MC carts in terms of speed, articulation and detail retrieval while maintaining the mid-range gusto of a good MM cart. The Sound-Smith re-tip makes this a very solid all-arounder and nothing on the market at the asking price will touch it. It has received meticulous care and the USB microscope photo depicts the current condition of the stylus. The stylus guard went MIA several years ago, however, it includes the original packaging and all contents so there is no risk of damage in shipping…will be double boxed to assure safe arrival. From the Stereophile review: (https://www.stereophile.com/content/clearaudio-virtuoso-wood-mm-phono-cartridge-page-3)
“Did the performance of the Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood exceed my expectations?
Yes, by a significant margin.
Can I think of any under-$1000 cartridge I've tried in my system that I would rather own than the Virtuoso Wood?
No.
Can I find at least one criticism of the Virtuoso Wood?
No. The performance of the Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood was so ear-opening that I recommend that anyone thinking of spending up to $2500 on a moving-coil cartridge consider buying the $750 Wood instead, and investing the money saved in better components elsewhere in the system.” Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood MM phono cartridge Specifications:
Description: Moving-magnet phono cartridge. Frequency range: 20Hz-20kHz. Output voltage (1kHz, 5cm/s): 3.6mV. Channel separation (1kHz): >30dB. Channel balance (1kHz): <0.2dB. Trackability: >90µm. Recommended tracking force: 2.0-2.5gm. Electrical impedance (1kHz): 660 ohms. Coil inductivity: 0.42mH. Load resistance 47k ohms. Load capacitance: 100pF. Cantilever: aluminum.
Weight: 6.0gm.
Serial number: 03124.
Original Price: $750.
SoundSmith Re-Tip Price: $350. (https://www.sound-smith.com/services/cartridge-rebuilding-retipping) Seller will pay 3 day FedEx shipping at the asking price. Buyer to pay 3% PayPal fee.
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