2. analog
  3. 156867-3420

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
louisl OP
183 posts
 
@dhcod 
You are absolutely correct!!!  I'm such an 'Immediate gratification' kind of guy, that when I installed the cartridge, brand new, cold, out of the box, I wanted it to blow me away....immediately.  Well, that just didn't happen.  I really need to learn to have a little patience.
The Mutech now has 12 hours of play time, and it is really beginning to sing for me.  I've never experienced such a transformation in a product during the break in process, as I am experiencing now with this Mutech.  
 

louisl OP
183 posts
 
@chakster 
i hate installing cartridges.  A lot of time and patience required.  However, in this case, once I have 50 hours on the new Cartridge, and I feel that it actually is broken in, I will put my old Cartridge back, for, as you say, a final comparison.  Good suggestion, thanks!

audition__audio
1,469 posts
 
You have a very good cartridge! We sold one of these to a client and it was the best we had heard at its retail price.


louisl OP
183 posts
 
@audition__audio 
I heard the Mutech not only at my dealer's store, but also in a friends system.  I knew then that it was one of those 'special' cartridges.  However, when I got it home, and installed it, I was much less then impressed.  I should have realized, that with zero hours, it was going to take a little time to wake-up.  Welll it certainly is waking-up, and sounding really very good.  Thanks for your comment!
audition__audio
1,469 posts
 
Our pleasure. Wanted to make certain that you knew our opinion. Our company (2 people) havent heard all of the cartridges in this price range, but your cartridge certainly bested some of the bigger names we auditioned.
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