Save it 7ntil what, your hearing begins to degrade due to age? I’m with the gent that said “use it, then buy another” and in the camp of (loosely) “listen to the best regardless of mood”
Do You Play Or Save Your Best Cartridges
I suspect I am like many here, I have a small collection of cartridges. Until recently I would keep a casual playing cartridge set up and I would save my "good" cartridges for evening listening sessions where I am focusing on listening to music at the listening chair. I always had a casual cartridge mounted on an arm, maybe an Audio Technica OC9 III or something along those lines. These days its either an Ortofon MC3000 II or MC5000.
Earlier this year I finally decided to use the DAC in my Trinov pre amp, and this involved getting a subscription to Roon, and hardwiring the computer and preamp to the router with CAT 6 ethernet cable. The sound is remarkably good, to the point where this can easily be my casual listening format.
I almost wonder if its necessary to have a casual cartridge. Or should I just play my best ones as often as I want and bite the bullet and know I am getting a new diamond fitted every few years.
Anyone else go through this kind of decision process?
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Have to be bonkers to want to change cartridges more than you have to. Each time you do that there is a small but finite chance you will damage it - brushing against the stylus with a sleeve or any number of ways. Plus it is a PITA to do . If this is an obsession for you, I'd suggest buying one of the tables that allow mounting of more than one arm so you can have a casual music arm and a best audiophile arm/cartridge. |
It seems I am in a minority by using my best cartridge sparingly. But don't worry, I don't have to change cartridges several times a day, I have two turntables, and if only the courier would get a move on I would have two tonearms on each. So I can have my best moving iron mounted (and used sparingly, as it is not at all clear that the new owner of londondecca.com will be there when it next needs a rebuild), and my next best moving iron, plus my best MC and finally a mono version of it. Being spoilt for choice isn't such a bad thing! |
@dogberry I fully empathise with your concern for having a access to a rebuild for a Cart'. I lost access to a exceptional Third Party Cartridge Service as a result of Brexit, the Technician was not interested in all the new requirements associated with the to and from shipping and reduced the customer base. A real shame and a fair proportion of testimonials given on the Web Site were from UK Based Customers. I feel confident, I am back on track when the time comes, but a trusted workmanship, is a luxury. |
- 75 posts total