Turntable upgrade recommendations: SME vs AMG vs Technics vs other

Dear @edgewear  : "" Comparing new and vintage cartridges in my own system over the years has confirmed the impression that no major sonic breakthroughs have been accomplished over the last 30-40 years of cartridge design. Not by Ortofon and not by others. But I’ll admit, prices did go through the roof. ""

I totally agree with you and is what I posted several times here and in other forums. Price gone well not gone but runned as a Ferrari Enzo in cartridges with out a true palpable benefit.

I never had the opportunity to listen the Xquisite cartridge but perhaps is the only cartridge through the years with a NEW design characteristic:

R.

I think Soundsmith, for one, has been quite innovative with the Strain Gauge and the Hyperion, plus improvements like DEMS (Dynamic Energy Management System) across cartridge lines.

@sokogear

To answer your question about how many people buy $10k cartridges and $70k phono stages: probably alot more than either you or I think, or could imagine. Many of these high end manufacturers are based in Switzerland, probably for a reason: lots of money from all over the world to buy their products, and the $70k FM223 phono linearizer (phono stage) has a 2-3 month wait list. Look at the new cars these days: $200k cars selling for $350 because the manufacturer can only make 1000 a year (e.g. Porsche GT3), and that’s not even touching Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bugatti, et al.  In other markets, look at Rolex watches:  a $12k Rolex new is selling for $40k used.  In that market, a $70k phono linearizer could seem like a bargain!

@drbond - wow….a waiting list for a $70K phono stage. I wonder how many they actually make and how many people are on the waiting list. Also, with this kind of money being thrown around, I hope they are maximizing their listening room, which is as (or more) important as their components.

I heard that the winning system at an audio show had a van den Hul cartridge and phono stage that were around $20K total, as part of a $400K system that beat systems costing over a million dollars.

Perhaps these Swiss marketed components are not reviewed because they can’t possibly be seen as a good buy. Maybe the best sounding but only meant for those spending for what for them is Monopoly money.

it must be nice…..but I don’t think I would ever spend that much regardless of whether or not I could afford it as comfortably as what I spent on my system. I would figure out a better use for the $$$ ithrough a charity or relative.

I wonder if that makes me a cheapskate as @lewm says he is. Most people think my music hobby is extravagant.

Edgewear, Your list of cartridges you've owned is pretty close to my list of cartridges I would like to hear.  Specifically the Transfig Proteus and the two Ortofons.  At the risk of blasphemy, I'd like to compare them to my favorite MI cartridges from days of yore, as well as to the lesser expensive LOMCs I do own, like the MC2000, MC7500, Koetsu Urushi, AT ART7, ZYX UNIverse. (Yeah, I guess owning those disqualifies me from total cheapskatehood.)  I've been looking for a nice used Proteus, in fact, since they've gone out of production.