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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
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,223 posts
 
Audioquestforlife you are certainly going to need that 80db with the Strat.
Not  so sure I am sold on the single pole idea. Anyway, I am more interested on what you think of the Soundsmith and how it compares to your Benz. Thanx:)
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
12,829 posts
 
@audioquest4life :  "  My phono stage can do 80db gain. "

Mine too but gain is only one critical issue with LOMC cartridges, there are a lot more than gain down there.
Any phono stage main target should has: very low noise level ( if I have 80db of gain it's a must this noise level. ), few gain stages, wide frequency range, very low inverse RIAA eq. frequency deviation, very low distortion levels.

Example about: my unit not only has active high gain but its RIAA eq. deviation is: 0.012db.

Anyway, enjoy what you like it. 

R.


limomangus's avatar
limomangus
1,190 posts
 
I'm just a poor old guy ,looking for the best for less.I don't have the money.If I did I probably would buy really expensive cartridges. The costs have gone threw the roof.Im a guy who bought Shure carts .Which always sounded good to me .Now I have a Ofton Blue. Used on a Nad c588 tt..Yes I see these 8,000 cartridges. But I need a new car ....
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terry9
2,239 posts
 
First I spent on everything else, that doesn't wear out much. Then I built an ultrasonic record cleaner, and cleaned all my records a few times. Then I bought a big Koetsu.

Factory rebuild costs a bomb - but, after 1000 hours, there is minimal wear (objectively speaking - a photomicrograph). At this rate, I'll need one rebuild, maybe two in my lifetime, and I have few remaining audio expenses. So I use it most of the time.
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