New Charisma Cartridge Review

Myles...I literally just read your review and surfed over to AS and found your post with the link to your review :D It sounds like you were quite taken with the cartridge. I wanted to ask you if you knew anything about the cartridge designer? You mention that Bernard Li found a cartridge designer who would design the various carts in the Charisma line to Bernard's specs but was wondering if you knew more about the designer(s)? Has he outsourced the production to another cartridge manufacturer and badging it with his Charisma brand (again to his specs)? Any additional info on this would be much appreciated. Thanks :thumbsup:

PS: It seems like his entry-level MC-1 got quite a few good reviews as well. So he is doing something right I would think. I think you were the second review of the MC-2.
 
cmalak said:
Myles...I literally just read your review and surfed over to AS and found your post with the link to your review :D It sounds like you were quite taken with the cartridge. I wanted to ask you if you knew anything about the cartridge designer? You mention that Bernard Li found a cartridge designer who would design the various carts in the Charisma line to Bernard's specs but was wondering if you knew more about the designer(s)? Has he outsourced the production to another cartridge manufacturer and badging it with his Charisma brand (again to his specs)? Any additional info on this would be much appreciated. Thanks :thumbsup:

PS: It seems like his entry-level MC-1 got quite a few good reviews as well. So he is doing something right I would think. I think you were the second review of the MC-2.
Click to expand...

Bernard is pretty tight lipped over who is building his cartridges. All I heard indirectly is that the Charisma aren't made for him by Benz and they aren't built in China. Guess the same could be asked about who is building tithe Triangles Arts or Garth Leer's new cartridges.

Yes I was smitten as I could listen to this cartridge forever and not be fatigued. Not hyper detailed nor was it technicolored or syrupy. Just real easy on the ears-and a midrange that is missing today in many components.

Yes I think mine was the first U.S. review but the first was from the UK.
 
Myles B. Astor said:
Bernard is pretty tight lipped over who is building his cartridges. All I heard indirectly is that the Charisma aren't made for him by Benz and they aren't built in China. Guess the same could be asked about who is building tithe Triangles Arts or Garth Leer's new cartridges.

Yes I was smitten as I could listen to this cartridge forever and not be fatigued. Not hyper detailed nor was it technicolored or syrupy. Just real easy on the ears-and a midrange that is missing today in many components.

Yes I think mine was the first U.S. review but the first was from the UK.
Click to expand...

Thanks Myles. Is there enough history with the Charisma MC carts to suggest that they are putting out consistent quality in their production units or might there be any question as it relates to maybe inconsistent quality? With carts, warranties are a bit sketchy since most times, an issue with a cartridge will usualyl result from user damage but any sense for whether Bernard will back up his carts with good warranty coverage? I am basically trying to get your sense as to whether you have any reservations about buying a cart from these guys since they are relatively new and perhaps there is not that much customer history with his line of carts. Thanks again for your help :thumbsup:

PS: If you'd rather take this offline, please PM me. Thx.
 
Myles B. Astor said:
Bernard is pretty tight lipped over who is building his cartridges. All I heard indirectly is that the Charisma aren't made for him by Benz and they aren't built in China. Guess the same could be asked about who is building tithe Triangles Arts or Garth Leer's new cartridges.

Yes I was smitten as I could listen to this cartridge forever and not be fatigued. Not hyper detailed nor was it technicolored or syrupy. Just real easy on the ears-and a midrange that is missing today in many components.

Yes I think mine was the first U.S. review but the first was from the UK.
Click to expand...


if I were a betting man i'd say the the Charisma is built by Jasmines' builder in china, the sole part sourced from Switzerland is the cantilever and styli. my best guess is Tom Vu's cart is by Blue electric. What cart is Garth building?
 
puroagave said:
if I were a betting man i'd say the the Charisma is built buy Jasmines' builder in china, the sole part sourced from Switzerland is the cantilever and styli. my best guess is Tom Vu's cart is by Blue electric. What cart is Garth building?
Click to expand...

I was thinking of the AMG Teatro that one assumes is built by?
 
Bernard is definitely a gentleman but a tight lipped one for sure. Myles, at least the stories we got from him are consistent.

I have the Charisma Reference One mounted in my Kronos 0.5/ Brinkmann 10.5 set up and it sounds glorious.

It's a really nice balance between detail, fun, and body. A great bargain.
 
Myles/Mark...since you both have experience with the Charisma carts (Myles with MC-2 and Mark with the Reference), any thoughts on how the MC-1 will compare with the Dynavector DV-20X2 which seems to be a very good performer for the money and a cartridge that many folks have had some experience with? How about the MC-2? Reading the MC-1 reviews, there were one or two comments that suggested it might be a bit lean or light in tonal balance. I did not get that from your comments on the MC-2 Myles.

The MC-1 ($1,095) is essentially in the same pricing zip code as the 20X-2 ($950) and the MC-2 is a bit more at $1,495.
 
I thought this was a very fair and balanced review. Myles talks about how good this cartridge really is while also delineating what separates it from the cartridges that sit at the very top of the peak. It appears that the Charisma is damn close to the top of the peak and provides almost the same 'view' while keeping a chunk of change in your bank account.
 
Mark...agreed. That's why I am interested. The issue as always with carts is you can't hear it for yourself typically and my only hesitation is that this a new company that is doing the marketing for the carts whereas the manufacture is being outsourced and relatively new so there isn't a long history behind it. Other than that, I am interested in trying one out (either the MC-1 or the MC-2) vs. the go to cart in this price range which for me is the Dyna 20X2.
 
cmalak said:
Mark...agreed. That's why I am interested. The issue as always with carts is you can't hear it for yourself typically and my only hesitation is that this a new company that is doing the marketing for the carts whereas the manufacture is being outsourced and relatively new so there isn't a long history behind it. Other than that, I am interested in trying one out (either the MC-1 or the MC-2) vs. the go to cart in this price range which for me is the Dyna 20X2.
Click to expand...

I understand the leap of faith of here. However, knowing that my ears align well with with what Myles tells me he hears and based on the LP recommendations he has made that I purchased and was damn glad that I did, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase this cartridge based on Myles' description of the sound. This is an opportunity for some people to move into a neighborhood they normally couldn't afford to live in. They might not have the most expensive house in the neighborhood, but it doesn't look out of place either. Some people spend more than $1495 for wooden boxes to display their power cords in.
 
i agree with Mark, not trying to sound flippant here but $1000 is not a lot for a good MC. if the charisma is what Myles says it is (and I have no doubt its is) then its a complete bargain. the dist is also a dealer with a good reputation, i wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger.
 
I heard it for myself at Myles' place. I thoroughly enjoyed the totality of the presentation so while I can't single out the cart, it was surely a part of that totality. I'd pull the trigger too.
 
Hi Cyril, It's been so long since I heard the DV20, I am also a fan of Dynavector, but man the Charisma's are great cartridges for the money and I would be very surprised if the competing Charisma would not be the best choice. Even the most expensive Reference model is a bargain, most listeners have loved it (except one a popular guy here that lives close to me! He He)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top