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At what price point do I run into diminishing returns on an MC Cartridge?

I need to replace my MC cartridge.  I've had limited experience with them but I have certainly noticed a dramatic difference in performance.  My first 3 were priced at $500 Sumiko, $900 Ortofon and $5000 Linn Kandid.  The difference between my first cartridge and second - nearly double in price, was a very noticeable improvement.  Then I took the plunge and spent $5000 (after tax) for my Linn Kandid cartridge.  The difference and improvement in the quality of sound was startling.  The soundstage was like nothing I'd ever heard before.  Coupled with my newly acquired McIntosh MP 1100 phono pre-amp and I was hearing things in LP's that quite frankly I had never heard before.  Amazing!  So here's the question: At what price point do I run into seriously diminished returns on a cartridge investment?  I rather doubt I'm going to have "double" the quality of sound that I received with my Linn Kandid cartridge if e.g. I went up to a $10K cartridge. So, my question to you audiophiles with loads of experience, what is your opinion on what price point (neighborhood) would take me to a place where every dollar spent thereafter would yield only micro returns.  Said another way, what is the best price point to take anyone to the the same neighborhood as a person with "money to burn" on cartridges?  BTW, I realize there are probably some pearls that don't cost nearly as much - and that money doesn't always buy you love.  If you KNOW of those do tell.         
normantaylor
rbstehno
1,432 posts
 
Normantaylor-creating a thread like this will get you a mix of people that don’t want to spend any amount of money on audio pieces like cables and cartridges or people that think their $100 piece is a giant killer.
Money isn’t necessarily the critical factor in determining which cartridge will be best for you. If you have a Music Hall turntable, you will be using a few hundred $$ cartridge. If you have a nice tt with a $8k tonearm, you won’t be using a $500 cartridge.
If I was searching for a high budget cartridge, I would make sure that you have a tonearm and phono preamp that can support such cartridge and then go listen if possible to cartridges that will work in your system. With analog, system synergy is very important, probably more so than 1 piece by itself
edgewear
543 posts
 
@chakster,

Yes, this was also designed by Matsudeira San. The specs are very similar, although the latest MY Sonic Lab models have somewhat higher output and even lower impedance. Before his tenure with Audiocraft he was responsible for the Entre EC-3, another great sounding cart. More recently he also designed the Air Tight PC-1 series.

No, I only have first hand experience with the MC-5000. But I do understand that this whole series was quite outstanding, so I should have mentioned the MC-2000 and 3000 as well. The main difference between models was the choice of stylus/cantilever (Replicant100 stylus and sapphire cantilever in the case of the MC-5000). The MC-7500 is still on my wantlist....


ebm
9,311 posts
 
$3879.00 after that its diminishing returns.Good luck though.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@rbstehno 

Normantaylor-creating a thread like this will get you a mix of people that don’t want to spend any amount of money on audio pieces like cables and cartridges or people that think their $100 piece is a giant killer.

Some used high-end cables are not expensive, sometimes people selling their cables for -70% of retail price. So $100 secondhand cable can be good too. Skilled in soldering can see how good is the phono cable, here i want to mention Zu Audio for their great cables, well build and good sounding compared to much more expensive cables. 



 If you have a nice tt with a $8k tonearm, you won’t be using a $500 cartridge.

Then look at Halcro's system and his collection of vintage MM cartridges. 

I am happy to use $500 cartridge on my $5k tonearm if this cheap cartridge is able to give me what i like, and the Garrott P77 was one of them. I think this is great idea, who said you have to pay $3k for a cartridge? I paid actually, so this is not about the money, it's about satisfaction. It's about the music after all. Some of the most involving cartridges are not the most expensive ones. 

Life is not so simple, everyone can make their own research in cartridges, so many of them around from different manufacturers/designers, different era, etc ... quality is not primary related to the price, they are all high quality, but we like some of them better than others for some reason.  

If I was searching for a high budget cartridge, I would make sure that you have a tonearm and phono preamp that can support such cartridge and then go listen if possible to cartridges that will work in your system. 

True, very important. 
jimmydd's avatar
jimmydd
42 posts
 
When your ears no longer hear an improvement!  
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