United States has some of the lowest duty rates in the world. Consumer electronics is less than 3%. I never got charged for anything under $500, or so. But did get charged for items closer to $1000 and above. For example, there was a fee of $100 on a $5000 audio purchase. You have nothing to worry about. The world surely takes advantage of this.
Speaking of MC cartridges. Some people do prefer them and it's fine. But just note, no MC cartridge sounds like tape. If you want that master tape sound, it has to be MM/MI.
The best cartridges built today are Ortofon 2M Black, Audio Technica VM760SLC, and Nagaoka MP-500.
There's nothing wrong with aluminum pipe cantilevers. Some of the best cartridges ever made used aluminum pipes. I sonically prefer them to boron rods. Rods always add coloration that's not on the original tape. Same applies for ruby, sapphire, diamond, etc.
Boron pipes are the best. But they might as well be unobtainium today. Resonance character of a pipe gets the sound right IMO.
Speaking of MC cartridges. Some people do prefer them and it's fine. But just note, no MC cartridge sounds like tape. If you want that master tape sound, it has to be MM/MI.
The best cartridges built today are Ortofon 2M Black, Audio Technica VM760SLC, and Nagaoka MP-500.
There's nothing wrong with aluminum pipe cantilevers. Some of the best cartridges ever made used aluminum pipes. I sonically prefer them to boron rods. Rods always add coloration that's not on the original tape. Same applies for ruby, sapphire, diamond, etc.
Boron pipes are the best. But they might as well be unobtainium today. Resonance character of a pipe gets the sound right IMO.