Grand Prix Monaco review in new Stereophile- OUCH

The Dynavector is the cartridge I'd recommend using with the Monaco... and did in the review!

No need to apologize for disagreeing! However, looking at the Monaco close up, examining the build quality and taking into account what must have gone into designing, building and actually manufacturing such a product, I don't think it's overpriced. The computer box, which looks like nothing, is packed with a sine wave commutation computer, which alone, is expensive. In fact, some experts with whom I consulted doubted it could be sine wave commutated because of the price of the product. Sine wave commutation is expensive....Mr. Lloyd didn't specify the system until his manufacturer's comment.

Grooves,I understand your point,and must admit that having just purchased a Transfiguration Orpheus,one can make a good case for high pricing there,too!Maybe I was a bit harsh,and for that I am sorry!

No problem. I can take a punch. It's part of the job. The Orpheus is fantastic! The other part of the job, hearing all kinds of great stuff, is the best part...

well if some kind soul would compare TWO $20K TURNTABLES, one with the dreaded belt, and the other with the equally dreaded direct drive, one might be able to at least decide how well each of the two manufacturers spent their money (and time) to get the most musical presentation. and i recall reading about the SME-30 which was compared favorably to the far-more-expensive rockport sirius in a previous review, as in "it doesn't get any better than this".
then there are all of "us guys" out there with an aries or a scout (or a basis or a merril)that are tickled 5 different shades of pink over what we're hearing. i'm sorry, but i'm VERY CONFUSED about a very-good $3000 rig that TAS is doing flips over (the VPI) in a recent discussion, and turntables that cost FORTY TIMES as much that can somehow extract bloody miracles from a five dollar record.
what's even MORE CONFUSING is, NOT ALL THAT LONG AGO, how the heck a plastic garrard record player with a $50 dollar cartridge used to keep our feet tapping year after year after year. none of us heard any significant rumble, distortion, or speed variations; even the records survived fairly well after being played over and over on these ridiculously cheap systems. finally i got a THORENS mostly because i hated all the plastic parts on the garrard...
but in conclusion, (please) compare apples WITH apples.