Skeptics believe:cartridge makes a HUGE difference


I was hesitant to upgrade my tonearm and cartridge. I thought, my system (verity parsifol, MC275, and c2300 with sota tt) already sounded great. Could a new tonearm and cartridge really make a difference? Yesterday, I upgraded to a Graham 2.2 with Transfiguration Orpheous L cart. WOW! What a difference. The records I have heard 100 times are new (and better) all over again. I love this equipment that allows fans of music to unpack more of the music's beauty.
elegal
Your point is very clear and a good one. Personally, I feel that a lot of the mystery that lies in between what we can currently measure and what we can only hear, should be dealt with using well conducted listening tests. I get a lot resistance with that one, though.
"Zd542 - don't worry, I don't get it either."

Well, no surprise there with Mr. Machina Dynamica, I must say.

"Your point is very clear and a good one. Personally, I feel that a lot of the mystery that lies in between what we can currently measure and what we can only hear, should be dealt with using well conducted listening tests. I get a lot resistance with that one, though. "

That's really the only practical way, though as is often pointed out, one must be careful about drawing cause and effect conclusions whenever something different is heard.

FOr example, I recently replaced some damaged standard issue power cords with other more costly ones from Pangea. I am pretty certain I heard differences immediately after each switch in terms of lower distortion levels, but they are subtle and I have to say that sometimes I am not certain, in that things sounded pretty good in this regard to start with. But they seemed to work well as designed and are well made products, so I have little reason to look back. I would probably do the same thing again for the same reasons if I had to.
"07-11-14: Geoffkait
Zd542 - don't worry, I don't get it either."

Just to be clear, I wasn't finding fault. My comment was meant to be a literal one. I just didn't fully understand Mapman's comment the way he worded it. Nothing more than that.
Congrats Elegal! Transfiguration cartridge and Verity speakers should make beautiful music together!! Enjoy the music!
Everything in the audio chain makes a difference. But not everything makes the same difference.

Over the years I have developed the following mantra, in order of importance in the audio chain (analog): speakers, cartridge, tonearm, phono stage, turntable, preamp and then everything else.

Bill