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
Thanks, Raul.  As you may recall, I once owned a Colibri, and it occurred to me that it and most other VDH LOMC cartridges I know about do or did not have particularly low internal resistance, which is what one would want if loading at 20 ohms.  But listening tests are the most important criteria.
@lewm : the I/O has 1Kohms as output impedance and the RIAA frequency deviation has a swing of a very high 0.5db. So it’s not only the VDH loading but this issues too that impedes the VDH showed at its best. I know very well the I/O even the 4 chasis one.

R.
@rauliruegas

Thank you for the feedback; however, I never said that I disliked the Benz LPS...it’s been my reference cartridge for years. In fact, while I was living in Europe, I have had high end dealers tell me that my system is one of the best sounding they have heard with the Benz LPS in my system. It was not for a sale either, just an invite to listen. Please don’t misconstrue what I stated about the Benz LPS, it works excellent in my system, as does the SS. I have not stated or it has not even been suggestive that I have any problems with my system. My friends most often want to come over and listen to music but not want to drink heavily, play cards, or play pool.  
 I would not fixate on the I/O as it does what I need it to do with the cartridges I own. I am sure open to experimenting and learning from others and that’s what I plan to keep on doing. What I have learned thus far in my audio journey is that I am the only one who can make emphatic statements about my listening environment and equipment, and those dealers, friends, and family who have heard the system as well. 
I appreciate your experiences, but don’t fixate onto something that’s vaguely referenced or not even stated as fact, and then sensationalize that topic by falsely interdicting your opinion on a supposed topic that is never even stated. I can see your passionate about how you approach musical bliss, some of us, are fire and forget guys...and appreciate the simplicity of getting to where we need to go in order to enjoy the music. That’s what you want, that’s what I want, that what we all want. 
But, the VDH still gets the “Das Boot” or “Your Fired” sentiment from me. We can really stop talking about the VDH now as this thread was started about costs of ownership cartridges. I made the mistake of mentioning that I was testing the VDH, and should have posted a new thread. Thanks.


@audioquest4life  : I had first hand experiences in two different home systems with the I/O .

Those high end Europe dealers and friends obviously have not attended very often to listen live MUSIC seated at nearfield or are a little " deaf " about because the I/O is very  far away from that experiences when other PS are a lot nearer to it.

I can't questioning to you because that's what you like, you are the owner.

As I posted before mine is only one more opinion trying to help but all is about you.

Anyway, as I posted our priorities are different.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.