Hello all, A few weeks ago I asked for general advice. I didn't really expect to be able to hear much difference between systems above a certain level and so just wanted to know the most reliable options. Unfortunately, this has proved not to be the case. So far, I have listened to: 1. Rega P3/RB301/Elys 2: did not like it. Ruined strings and long held notes of all varieties. 2. Rega P3/RB301/DV10x5: The P3 sounded much better with a DV 10x5 but not good enough. 3. Rega P5/RB700/Elys2: sounded worse that the P3 with the 10x5. Could not handle long notes either. Brassy, muddled high notes. 4. Opus Continuo 3/Moerch arm/Blue Point Special III: intellectually, no problems with this one. Emotionally, I felt depressed. Just too dark for my liking, though it took everything I gave it and returned a respectable product. 5. GyroDec/ Blue Point Special III: quite pleasing, I liked its open sound. A bit of a step up again in terms of price. Something didn't quite grab me though. Also, I like to have a dustcover but I don't really like the big plastic box around the Gyro. 6. Roksan Xerxes (original) /Moerch arm/ Blue Point Special III: excellent with Copland's Appalachian Spring, left me wanting a bit more life and breath with Emma Kirkby singing Purcell. 7. Townshend Rock 7/Rega 301/a more expensive cartridge that I have forgotten the name of: the opposite of the Roksan; very nice with Emma Kirkby, not quite as musical and engaging with the Copland. As you can see, I am driving myself up the wall. Of them all, the one that tempts me the most is the Roksan perhaps. But I really felt it was lacking something with the female vocals to the extent that even the Rega P3 (with the DV 10x5) might have been a match for it in that area. What should I do? Settle? Get one of these but a different cartridge? Keep looking? I'm feeling a little miserable about the whole process right now.