Cartridges: Complete Scam?

Well this is a remarkable thread. I rarely agree with Raul :-) but this time he's hit it on the head. The OP doesn't seem to understand that we call it a "stereo SYSTEM" for a reason, and the most important component is himself - his ears, brain, and capacity to process information and learn as he goes (i.e. the linkage between the first two). If you want to gain real understanding, and maybe 'hearing' too, you have to work for it! and it's fun!  

And then there's a discussion about classical theories of commodity value. My only comment there is that "use" and "exchange" value were never seen as separate entities in themselves, but elements of a greater whole. So the relationship between them is always tricky, both for economists (some) and for the original poster. Certainly it's good to have a lot of skepticism in the pursuit of good audio, but patience counts too (oh yeah, and money). 

"Which is better, a Pass or an Onkyo?"

The Pass is better. Not, it's better if its paired with Pass pre-amp. Not, depends on your definition of use-value.

That MoFi system at Capital Audiofest sounded really good. That was a $2k table + cartridge combo using their $250 phono stage....running into TAD electronics and Evolution Ones...gear that probably costs well north of $100k. I guess stereo "system" "balance" only works in one direction! So, what are we looking at here...could it be that MoFi unintentionally exposed the SCAM behind the cartridge industry by pairing a $2k turntable and cartridge + $250 phono with high-end components which ended up producing a high-end sound -- among the best of the show? Does that mean you're a SUCKER if you pay more than $500 (the non-bundled cost of the MoFi Ultra Tracker) on a cartridge?

Or does it mean that this 23 lbs turntable and tonearm are the greatest value in vinyl history, and that it could have achieved stunning audio with an upgraded cart and phono stage?

So, once again. I have this MDF 19 lbs turntable. It's an AC motor belt-drive that uses a Derlin platter and pulley. It's got a 35g aluminum tonearm. It's running into a $500 ($300 special from Music Direct) battery-powered phono stage.  The large consensus on this forum is that installing a $2-3k cartridge will yield no or negative benefit.

So let's assume I'm not going "balance" my system by installing $200k worth of speakers, amps, cables and pres. How much do I have to spend on an arm, table and phono stage to mine the true benefit out of a well-regarded $2-3k cartridge? Since I have no idea if the MoFi arm can be replaced, should I just return the unit right now -- that no matter what I do, a $1k turntable won't benefit from a $2k cartridge?

I will give you an example and maybe this will become more clear to you.

I had a Basis 2000 turntable with a Basis branded Rega tonearm and a Shelter 901 cartridge.

I changed from the Rega (inexpensive) tonearm to a Basis Vector (expensive) tonearm and the difference was significant and noticeable particularly the imaging.

Clearly the Rega tonearm was not allowing the Shelter cartridge to perform at its best.

So an expensive cartridge may sound better than an inexpensive cartridge, even on a substandard turntable/tonearm combination, but it will not be able to perform at its best.

FWIW I think using the words SUCKER and SCAM when you write leads to nothing positive when you are asking others to help you with information or explain something to you.

+1 jperry!

OP- If you are really serious, then the answer is that in most cases, a $1K table and a $500 phono stage will not get the most out of a $2K cart.  And it certainly will not be plug-n-play.  Unless you have a dealer with good analog set-up skills (a rarity, these days) you will need a good protractor for alignment and a scale for setting VTF.  Maybe a good microscope for getting VTA and azimuth right.  Can't find a $300/$500 battery phono stage on MD's web site, so no idea if it has variable loading or whether the gain would be adequate for a LO MC cart.  If you are going MM or MI, $2K is very near top of line.  Of course, the show demo you heard may (or may not) have benefited from very careful system matching and expert set-up.  As someone said, LP playback requires a properly matched "system" where each piece needs to be selected with consideration for upstream and downstream components.