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A pragmatic view of cartridge expenses / many questions

Trying to see what your thoughts are on cartridge expenses? Do you buy cartridges and replace or retip after it’s worn? Cartridges are like tires for cars in some ways. You have to replace the tires after they wear out.

If you own an ultra expensive cartridge, let’s say, over 7k, is that your main spinner? Do you do a factory retip at costs exceeding thousands? Do some of you who own high cost cartridges use them only for special occasions, similar to drinking Dom Perigon for some special event, and use a normal not so exotic cartridge for regular day to day use and perhaps non-audiophile records.
I am sure each of us have our own price threshold and thoughts of high end cartridges. I only said 7k, because that seems to me a fair price point to describe a very expensive cartridge.

My thoughts are that having a few normally priced cartridges around is a good thing, due to the wear and tear, and replacing or retippimg would also be less costly. I do lust after some high end cartridges and if I do obtain one, my philosophy would be as described above. Enjoy for special occasions, and use a less costly for normal day to day listens. Geez, it feels like we are trying to separate our car cruises from a sports car feel to a luxury limo ride feel, in some ways. 
What’s your opinion on expendability of cartridges?
audioquest4life
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
I don't know that cartridges are a whole lot more expendable than anything else. Sure if you play a lot of records its possible I guess to wear one out. But then you sell it used just as you would any other component. I always have. Then buy a better one, same as anything else.

Then when you get to the level you're talking about it really makes sense to get the Soundsmith Strain Gauge. Costs a little more than $7k but actually costs a whole lot less because with it you eliminate the need for a phono stage that could easily run you $5k to $15k or more at that level. Plus you get a cartridge with user replaceable stylus that is dirt cheap, relatively speaking.

It even has an upgrade path, the power supply being capable of elevating performance well into the stratosphere of the very best cost no object carts.
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rauliruegas
13,051 posts
 
Dear @audioquest4life : " Enjoy for special occasions, and use a less costly for normal day to day listens. "

Depend of which is your main target/priority listening your room/system.

If that main priority/target is to stay as nearer to the recording and MUSIC as you can then you have to invest in the best cartridge you can 7k or 10K whatever and when is near the end of its stylus tip life then send it to the manufacturer directly not a re-tipper no matters what.

Chapagne is a bad example against cartridge. It’s like red wine Petrus or Chateu Laffite or Margaux that you drink it to celebrate only in very special ocasion but if you are whealty enough then you will drinked always, day by day !

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTION,
R.
edcyn
1,876 posts
 
In for a dime; in for ten thousand bucks.  Be nice to your cartridge but enjoy the heck out of it.  By the time it wears down to the point where you have to replace it (barring catastrophe, of course), chances are there'll be something better...and perhaps even cheaper.
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