.... and enquiering minds. SME v Clearaudio.

Well last night I had at last some undisturbed time to set the Clearaudio up and do a little listening. I didn't start out to compare the two TTs to see which one is better, as that would not be a fair duel. It was rather more to evaluate the difference in their individual musical presentations.
So the SME had my usual Dynavector mounted and the Clearaudio the Transfiguration.
I know both cartridges very well. The Transfiguration Temper V is somewhere between a Decca and a Koetsu whereas the Dynavector has a sound I really like. Nothing quite like anything else and it suits me.
I played side a on one TT and side b on the other one. The differences are very much evident.
Whereas the SME locks on to the groove and is rock solid with whatever comes. The Clearaudio in contrast sounds a little lighter, more hurried and edge of the seat presentation. The SME always sounds in control whereas the Clearaudio sounds like it could all fall apart, but never does. Both combos dig up masses of detail. About evens I reckon. But the SME has them all fleshed out more.
The best analogy to sum up I can give is this:
If it would be two paintings of the same landscape scene, the Clearaudio would be the watercolour on paper and the SME the full blown Oil on heavy canvas.
I reckon that a mono set-up would really suit the Clearaudio as it might inject some live into 50s or 60s mono recordings. We shall see (hear). It's all pretty exciting stuff.
Hope my rambling made sense.
Have a good weekend.

Peace