Okay, reviving an older thread here. I've had my Pearl for a few days now, and have about 20 hours on it, and I am gratified to find my impressions similar to the above. Most of all, I think the cartridge's real strength is that it doesn't have any glaring weaknesses; that is a good thing in its price range. Highs are extended, crisp, and detailed, but without the sibilance issues you often get with cheaper cartridges - sometimes I think that some of the 30 and 40 buck cartridges would be pretty decent if they did roll off a bit. While I wouldn't go quite so far as to call the mids lush, I do find them fairly uncolored, with the ability to resolve instruments well - not congested. The lowest bass a bit soft, perhaps, but tightens up quickly above that, is my experience. Of course, my TD-165 doesn't allow me to experiment with VTA, but I have done some by using various mats.
I didn't listen to vinyl for years, but a decade or two ago I had another TD-165 upon which were mounted various cartridges such as Stanton 681EEE-S, 881-S, and some high-end Signets whose model numbers escape me, but were near the top of the line. This Pearl is embarassed by none of those combinations, as I recall. Vinyl is suddenly my main source of music again, and it sounds great. Very good cartridge, mates well with Thorens' 16.5 gr tonearms.
Second I have noticed the Pearl is not a very forgiving cart, it really brings out the flaws in any recording, and if the record is a digital master it is very evident. But I would not really hold that against it, but if you use it I would recommend a cart for your records that are not the best quality. Another thing I have noticed, but am not sure if its just because its not fully broken in, is that the highs seem a tad rolled off. Not badly, but just barley noticeable. One thing I love about the cart though so far is its reproduction of distorted guitars, and reproduction of horned instruments, both are spot on and very very open and realistic sounding, as if they were right here with me! Surface noise overall with this cart is not bad, but not good either, its not as bad as my Grados, but not as good as my Shibata equipped Audio Technica. The surface noise that is produced is not distracting or annoying, just a little more present, which I honestly kinda like. It does well with all music, like mentioned before, I really enjoy it with any type of brass instrument and with guitars, it also does well with any type of echo or distortion on vocals or any instrument, you can plainly tell how the music was recorded and if it was in a small dampened space, or a more open studio, or if the whole ensamble was recorded all together (my favorite). It really is a great cart!
