2. analog
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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
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,810 posts
 
The ability of the tone arm to properly track the cartridge is far more important than what cartridge you have! If anything this is the Achilles heel of LP playback as most people don't have their analog set up properly.



best-groove's avatar
best-groove
842 posts
 
The MC-7500 is still on my wantlist....

Save money for something else; MC 7500 and MC 5000 made several convinced owners unhappy they were better than the MC 3000 they had.

I also wanted to have better things in Ortofon house (I currently have MC 3000mk2, Rohmann, MC 30 and MC 30 super and I had MC 70 anniversary) but I immediately changed my mind!
normantaylor OP
51 posts
 
mijostyn
Thanks!  Great response to my query.  Thanks for the suggestions.  Happy Holidays
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Norman, pay attention to atmasphere. He is very right. Learn to set up your tonearm and cartridge correctly. You will do it better than anyone else just because it is your turntable. Do not believe any of the scales on the tonearm. You need a test record, an accurate stylus force gauge, a level, a few tools and patience. It is not rocket science. 
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rauliruegas
13,066 posts
 
Dear @daveyf  : I owned Linn cartridges , the last one was the Akiv.

As Lyra Linn cartridges are manufactured by Scan-Tech not by Lyra.

I never had the opportunity to listen the Kandid but something that worried me about the Linn characteristics design is that ceramic boron cantilever due that ceramic is way resonant in that place.

Lyra Clavis D'Capo came with a ceralloy cantilever, I owned and when I change that cantilever for a boron one the differences for the better was nigth and day.
Lyra knows that and I don't think that could recomend to any one a ceramic/boron cantilever type.

The Akiva is very good performer and I can assume that the Kandid too.

@normantaylor , as the quality level performance increase in a cartridge the improvements in new cartridge designs goes in lower and lower increments but the prices goes higher and higher because when the quality levels is so high any tiny increment in the quality performance levels is an achievement not easy to touch. Needs a lot of research and tests/voicing evaluations and that means time, knowledge and skills to do it to " stay there " and this means too a lot more money for a tiny quality increment..

But all those does not matters if you don't have the room/system quality level performance that can honor that cartridge so high qualityperformance. Of course that that room/system needs a really high resolution levels with extremely low overall distortions and you need very experienced ears not only in audio but in live MUSIC and how it sounds at near field seated position.

Now, you started this thread and other two threads in other forums where in the other forums you were asking for amp or speaker and your budget limit is 12K and now are you looking for a cartridge on the $$$$$ price that can goes over that small budget of what you are looking for? or maybe you already left the speaker or amp for other future times. Who knows.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.


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