HI all
I want to contribute my experience, but I always say - beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
Based on my experience, I must say that I agree that there is a great deal of difference - for the better - when you move from a 3k to 10k deck.
I had a Roksan Xerxes TT with Rega RB 300 arm, with a Sumiko Blue Point Special cart. - around USD 3k. When I changed that to a Kuzma Reference Stabi TT, Stabi Reference arm and Koetsu Rosewood Signature cart. (around 10k), the music/sound is a lot quieter, more refined, with better resolution all around. There is no way you can compare the quality of Koetsu and Sumiko cartridges. BTW, the 2 TTs were using the same pre/amps and speakers.
I am now using the same Stabi Reference TT, but with Triplanar VII arm and Koetsu Jade Platinum, and the improvement is miles better than our previous set-up.
I can not say "How much is TOO MUCH for an Analog front-end", but I have heard an A-B comparison of the Kuzma Stabi Reference and XL, using the same Benz Micro LP carts., but Triplanar on Reference and Airline on XL, and the difference is night-and-day. Both were ABed using an ASR Basis Exclusive phono, via Karan pre/power and JMLab Alto Be speakers.
I am now considering to buy my next TT, and would USD 30k for the Kuzma XL and Airline combo (without cart) be too much ?
Cheers ... Peter