Is there usually a dramatic difference between $5k and $10k cartridges ?

Are you using a SUT?

If so which one. I think a $5,000 cart with a great SUT would be better than a $10,000 without a SUT. 

@martinl07d : The $16K Grado Epoch is a moving iron cartridge so no SUT needed.

Jason was kinda focused on dwette post. 
absolutely no SUT needed on MI 

@dwette Your comment is interesting; You have both stereo and mono high end. I am agonizing on upgrading my stereo cart OR add a similar value mono one. I have a lot of mono old rock an some jazz and vocals in mono. Would you upgrade from 5k to 10k stereo, or add a Miyajima Infinity cartridge (and second arm, etc.)? Thanks

Dear @inna  : First than all you need to own not only a first rate tonearm and phonolinepreamp but a true high room/system  resolution and you need to be a experienced listener of live MUSIC and that your room/system try to even that live MUSIC main characteristics..

Even than not always a 10K cartridge overall beats a 5K cartridge.

However the @dwette  expereience is a good one thatI experienced and yes the Atlas outperform the really goodXV 1s.

The other example with the Etsuro Gold is not exactly a superior one to say Umami Blue.

There are cartridges that are more consistent in that $ superiority as are the Lyra and Ortofon but severall $$$$ are overrated only because its high $$$$.

@carlsbad2  I think that almost no one , at least I can´t , can really be aware of a 5% difference in quality of two diferent cartridges about its quality level not say the 1% of your example.

Btw, I own vintage ridiculous prices that outperform 5K to 10K cartridges by a wide margin.

The OP question is not an easy one to answer with a " yes or no " because is surrounded of all the room/system links but even " everything the same " is a little complex to give a true clear winner.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.