I'm curious, if i could afford to buy and to test all the multi-thousand dollar cartridges in the world from those modern designers like Nakatsuka-San and others (there are many), what would be my statement regarding my rare vintage gems designed, made and voiced by legends like Takeda-San, Isamu Ikeda and others ?
What if the legends like Ikeda-San (RIP) could live forever and making new cartridges every year?
What is the giants of the industry could still make a fantastic MM or MC cartridges and people who designed them could teach new generation?
And finally what if the market demand for the phono cartridges could be much higher today (like it was in the 70's) ?
I can also think about the price for today's best cartridges in 30 years perspective, i will be like 73 y.o. and it would be nice to see a NOS top of the line ZYX from 2019 still sealed in 2049 :)
But at the moment we have some fantastic cartridges made in the 70's, 80's and even in the early 90's by world best cartridge designers.
Each time i read a comments or review from the owner of the phono cartridge with a price tag over $5 i wish to ask for his background, especially if the current favorite cart of such person is something over $15k.
Each of us is pretty sure that no single cartridge can't cost that much, no matter what materials used.
Dealers who can sell "the dream" for that much are genius !
They are along with the cartridge designers are very well informed of the main syndrome of the "audiophilia".
And Mehran is one of them, i've bought my $3-5k ZYX from him two times, great service. The only problem is that i couldn't get any technical information from him personally when i had some technical questions (even some basic stuff about the gear he is selling, really).
No more ZYX in my life, no more overpriced "esoteric" cartridges, only top quality vintage high-end from the golden age of analog (in pristine condition) from all the best cartridge designers. And you know what ? I like it much better than those ZYX Airy III Silver Coil and copper Premium 4D SB2 i had in my life.
I was wrong at that time, i should learn the basics first, discover some killer vintage cartridges first and only then thinking about something new, but i was brainwashed by the industry with all their classic tools such as reviews, marketing etc. My mistake. I paid for my experience, but learned some.
It's funny to watch the sequel, a better cartridge every year for "better" price, always more and more expensive ignoring the fact that even $5k is insane for any cartridge. This is my vision of the modern high-end. Interesting that they can't design even a good box for their cartridges, because in the 70's and in the 80's each cartridge box was so much better and properly designed individually, no to mention a booklet. Now they use cheap digital prints and plain boxes even for $5k cartridges.
What if the legends like Ikeda-San (RIP) could live forever and making new cartridges every year?
What is the giants of the industry could still make a fantastic MM or MC cartridges and people who designed them could teach new generation?
And finally what if the market demand for the phono cartridges could be much higher today (like it was in the 70's) ?
I can also think about the price for today's best cartridges in 30 years perspective, i will be like 73 y.o. and it would be nice to see a NOS top of the line ZYX from 2019 still sealed in 2049 :)
But at the moment we have some fantastic cartridges made in the 70's, 80's and even in the early 90's by world best cartridge designers.
Each time i read a comments or review from the owner of the phono cartridge with a price tag over $5 i wish to ask for his background, especially if the current favorite cart of such person is something over $15k.
Each of us is pretty sure that no single cartridge can't cost that much, no matter what materials used.
Dealers who can sell "the dream" for that much are genius !
They are along with the cartridge designers are very well informed of the main syndrome of the "audiophilia".
And Mehran is one of them, i've bought my $3-5k ZYX from him two times, great service. The only problem is that i couldn't get any technical information from him personally when i had some technical questions (even some basic stuff about the gear he is selling, really).
No more ZYX in my life, no more overpriced "esoteric" cartridges, only top quality vintage high-end from the golden age of analog (in pristine condition) from all the best cartridge designers. And you know what ? I like it much better than those ZYX Airy III Silver Coil and copper Premium 4D SB2 i had in my life.
I was wrong at that time, i should learn the basics first, discover some killer vintage cartridges first and only then thinking about something new, but i was brainwashed by the industry with all their classic tools such as reviews, marketing etc. My mistake. I paid for my experience, but learned some.
It's funny to watch the sequel, a better cartridge every year for "better" price, always more and more expensive ignoring the fact that even $5k is insane for any cartridge. This is my vision of the modern high-end. Interesting that they can't design even a good box for their cartridges, because in the 70's and in the 80's each cartridge box was so much better and properly designed individually, no to mention a booklet. Now they use cheap digital prints and plain boxes even for $5k cartridges.