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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
audioquest4life OP
778 posts
 
@lewm 

Thank you for the hearty welcome. It’s been a while for sure. Overseas work for military and feds keeps you busy. I am trying to find where I stated I was loading it at 20 ohms, but if I did, it was for experimental purposes only. I did start at 4.5K, the setting I am using for the Soundsmith MKII, and from there tried 47k, and then 20, and finally, 243. The specification tag for the Crimson was hand  written in Euro script with two different loading ranges, 1. 20-250, 2. 47k. Having learned that loading on MC cartridges needs to be listened to in order to lock in best sound, I made bold adjustments, and the recommended ones as well. Of course, we all know the entire chain from cartridge to phono amp will influence loading somewhat. Which translates into it being a crap shoot with an optimal value/s as tested by the manufacturer. I view the ranges set by the manufacturer as being a baseline for users to be able to adjust their  systems easier. Some trial and error is almost an absolute. 
audioquest4life OP
778 posts
 
@mijostyn, 

I am with you regarding the Hyperion, if I don’t like it, some other person will. Same with the Jade. Ironically, the weight of the Benz LPS is 16.4 grams, and the Jade is 12.5 grams. To be honest, I thought the SME V was going to need the accessory weight they sell for ultra heavy cartridges. But, I did not. The SME V was able to handle the Benz LPS with ease, but it was very close. I was able to adjust the tracking force and, voila, music. 
terry9
2,354 posts
 
Audioquest, there is a thread on higher end Koetsu's, and the consensus seemed to be that the Diamond Cantilever option was worth the money. To some. I agree, I have one.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Hold on audioquest4life you are making one slight mistake which I do not want to come back and haunt you. The Benz LPS has a compliance of 15 um/mN. The Koetsu's, all of them have a compliance of 5 um/mN. The SME V has an effective mass of about 10 gms and you will need an arm with an effective mass of 20 gm to run a Koetsu. Why do you think the Japs like those boat anchor tone arms?  Because you can balance out 16.5 gm we know you can add 5 gm to the head shell. If that does not get your resonance down to 10 Hz you will need more weight and the bigger counterbalance weight. 
If you just mount the Koetsu and try to run it with the tone arm as is it will pop right out of the groove with the first bass drum kick. 
audioquest4life OP
778 posts
 
@mijostyn, 

Thank you for the update. Will adding the optional SME counterweights mitigate this factor? After all, I thought that was the purpose of SME developing more counterweights to allow heavier cartridges. The V12 can accept heavier cartridges, hmmm. 
I could always move to an SME V12 which would be a nice experiment as well. My turntable has two SME mounts, and a third mount not being used. I have two SME Vs mounted and can add a third tone arm. Yes, those German Transrotors allow for some nice tone arm variation. Getting kicked out a groove has never happened to me, but does not sound good. Thanks. 
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