Cartridges

I don't concern myself about the very best of the best ancillaries any longer, especially within HiFi, and ones that are used to enable a Source Materials Recorded Data to be replayed.

I have found a standard that is satisfying for ancillaries for replaying the Vinyl LP, that I am content with. Anything else shown as an interest on this subject, is an expression of a curiosity and interest in having a new encounter.

I find that a sufficiently purified Vinyl LP, when used for a replay, can offer a very impressive presentation with a Cart' in use, that is using a design and materials that are notably fit for the purpose.

A certain design for a Cart' of a Particular Value, following a period of interrogation might prove to be the winner from a period of carrying out comparison demonstrations, but by what margin, will be one question, and at which increased cost for the purchase to achieve the margin of difference being detected.

Working on the commonly seen notion, that a Cart' has a 1000 Hours of usage life, (which is being generous), a Cart' with a decent design and use of materials can produce a replay at approx' 70 cents - $1.50 per hour.

The options for the value of a Cart' can quite easily escalate to approx' $4.00, $5.00, $8.00, $11.00, $15.00 per Hour of usage.

There is one thing Guaranteed that is on offer, which is the Speedy depreciation of the Cart's Value. If you have put 300-400 Hours on a Cart' and lose 50% of the Value as a resale, that means the derivative of the 1000 Hour calculation has an increased cost associated per hour of usage.

It really is each to their own, on how one spends on a product they have a desire to own, especially such a luxurious purchase, such as a Cartridge.  

I have a Vinyl LP purchased not too long ago, that has appreciated in value Tenfold if using Discogs as a reference. I have Vinyl LP's that have increased in Value between Twenty to a Hundredfold, from my collection produced over a much-extended period of time, if using Discogs as a reference.

The Vinyl LP is certainly going to be a very much enjoyed product when used as a medium to replay recorded music. In certain cases, the medium in use might also be appreciating in Value.

The Appreciation might not be of any benefit in the short term, but there may become a day when it is beneficial to oneself. If one decides to reimburse their coffers through selling, the appreciated value, if realised, will certainly with immediate effect, help offset against the depreciation that a Cartridge has been heavily impacted by, as a result of the needing to own one to experience the recording medium being replayed.           

I also think there should be synergy between the cartridge and the other components. I have Revel bookshelf speakers which tend to be a little "laid back". Using a Grado, I found the sound very smooth in the mids, but the bass and treble were muted. Same with an Ortofon, although more balanced. I then tried an old AT  with a NOS Shibata tip and it all came together. When I had my previous Paradigms, the AT would cause fatigue after one record side. I also must add that my system is far more plebian than most on this blog and all of the cartridges I mentioned were MM's that were a notch above entry level, 

You’ll probably get more out of the high end vinyl, with a better cartridge.

hysteve

I upgraded my cartridge from a Kiseki Purpleheart NS to a Grado Aeon and am delighted by the improvement in sound froma wide range of records. A much more detailed, richer sound with a wonderful ambience - feeling of space as elements are much more clearly seperated.

Just be careful to avoid having any transformers near the cartridge as it will hum!

I haven't had the pleasure of hearing an Epoch3 or Aeon3, but the Statement3 has taught me a lesson. With an output of 1mV it can be used as an MM or as an MC as far as the phono stage is concerned. I found it decidedly boring connected as an MM both with a Quad 24p and with the NuVista Vinyl. But as an MC with the resistive loading set low at 100Ω it comes to life and is really giving my London Reference a challenge.