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Cartridges: Complete Scam?

I’m very new to analog, and researching my options on forums I keep coming across the same sentiment: that past the ultra low-end cartridges, there is very little gains in actual sound quality and that all you’re getting are different styles and colorations to the sound.

So, for example, if I swapped out my $200 cartridge that came with my table for a Soundsmith, Dynavector, Oracle, etc, I may notice a small improvement in detail and dynamics, but I’m mostly just going to get a different flavor. Multiple people told me they perffered thier old vintage cartridges over modern laser-cut boron-necked diamonds.

It’s possible that these people are just desperately defending thier old junk and/or have never heard high end audio. But if what they’re saying is true, than the cartridge industry is a giant SCAM. If I blow 2.5k minimum on an Air Tight I better get a significant improvement over a $200 bundler — and if just all amounts to a different coloration, than that is a straight-up scam ripoff.

So guys — are these forums just BS-ing me here? Is it really a giant scam?
madavid0
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rauliruegas
13,093 posts
 
Dear @inna : """ I thought you cartridge guys would align by ear. ............ When using alignment tools, any tools, how can you be sure that they give you the best result ? Very uncool of you. And incorrect. """

Do you have idea what we are talking here?, seems to me you have not and if you think you know what we are talking here then whom is totally incorrect is no one but you.

If you think your statement is correct please tell us how did/do you ( by ears. ) makes the cartridge/tonearm overhang and offset angle set up?, because that’s what we are talking about and what mainly protractors does.

Enligth our day ! .

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
@rauliruegas surely then by this logic the tonearm manufacturer should also provide the following in the box with their arm
1) A fozgometer (or other azimuth setting tool)
2) A test record
3) A USB microscope (or at least an alignment block with a VTA grid)
4) An accurate tracking force gauge

Each of the above is as critical to setup as is alignment so why do you only expect the tonearm makers to provide the templates for alignment?
raymonda
855 posts
 
Most manufactures provide either the tools or the measurements or both needed for proper set up. Jelco, for instance, give you both and a nifty plastic gauge. Rega give you both, but alas, their gauge is made of paper.
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rauliruegas
13,093 posts
 
Dear @folkfreak : You are rigth/correct. All those set up parameters/tools are important.

Now, what I'm refering here is in specific: overhang, P2S distance and offset angle.
This is the tonearm manufacturer own responsability. No one else.

AZ and  VTA/SRA:   normally you make it by ears. What I mean is that the tools you mentioned about can help but the final/fine tunning of those two parameters you make by ears according/following to your own room/system evaluation tests proccess.

In reference to test record I almost do not use any more even that I own no less than 20 different test records.

As you know as more and more experience and learning job we have as more easy the whole set up but those set up parameters that are handled by a tonearm protractor.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.


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rauliruegas
13,093 posts
 
Dear @raymonda : The tonearm manufacturer protractor has to have 100% accuracy and that you can use it " thousands " of times if necessary. Paper just does not works as protrcator.

R.
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