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What should I do?

Recently, at a brick and mortar audio dealer, I listened to a high-end moving coil cartridge.  It sounded really good, and I was impressed.  The retail for this cartridge was more then I wanted to spend ($4500), but to make a long story short, the dealer offered me a rare deal, ($2500+tax) brand new, so I bought it.  Got it home, and carefully installed it last night.  I listened to it for about 2.5 hours.  It is really good, but I don't think (at this point), that it's that much better then my old cartridge (at least, not yet).
Ok, so this morning I played around with the loading.  Better, but still I'm not happy.  Now, with only about 5 hours on this new Cartridge, I realize that it's not broken in yet.  I'm looking for input as to your thoughts on how I should proceed.
1.  Are cartridges purchased from high-end dealers returnable (I don't want to create any bad feelings with this dealer, since he gave me such a good price)?
2.  I was told 50 hours of break-in time for this Cartridge.  Should I wait the break-in period to make any decisions?
Any thoughts on how you think I should proceed are appreciated! 


louisl
melm
1,074 posts
 
If @louisl doesn't respond with the info requested this is a complete waste of time.
isochronism
2,893 posts
 
All very helpful suggestions here weighing the available options. "If @louis doesn't respond".., we know where he should put it! 👍 HA
ebm
9,311 posts
 
No dealer will take a cartridge back unless it is broke,check VTA it will have to change after cartridge is broken in.What is the name of this mystery cartridge.
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
What is the name of this mystery cartridge.

Ha...i was wondering the same. I may offer to buy it depending on what it is assuming @louis decides he’s done with it. ;-)
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,046 posts
 
Dear @louisl : All LOMC cartridges when we buy it in new condition always needs that the cartridge suspension settle down before we can " play " with loading and other cartridge/tonearm set up parameters.


You need to start with the cartridge manufacturer recomendations/specs and after the set up been that way just let play the cartridge for at least 50 hours with out putting to much attention to its quality level performance, you can't have under scrutiny or make any changes in its set up.

Then after those 50+ hours you will re-check the overall cartridge/tonearm set up: overhang/overall geometry alignment, VTF, VTA/SRA, azymuth, antiskate, changes on loading and the like.

That means that now you will start the cartridge fine tunning till you find out that the qualioty performance of that cartridge is " there " where you really like it.

I know you own/owned SS cartridge, Lyra Kleos and an old very good 0.2mv LOMC cartridge ( that I owned but I can't remember the manufactuerr. ) and that use/used VPI tonearm that I don't like it not only with LOMC cartridges that are more demanding than MM/MI ones about tonearms especially with unipivots like your VPI.

In the other side iof your new cartridge is really a top tier and you are using tubes then there is an additional problem.

Do what you want it because you never give answers to what other gentlemans ask for when you are the OP   ! ! ? ? ? whom ask for advices. LOL.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
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