Dear friends: If in any way this post could help to put some " light " on the manufacturers cartridge " reasons " to have several models in its cartridge lines then good if not: well you will know which my take on that subject:
+++++++ IMHO any market for almost any product has some kind of " distribution condition " where the different customers are or belong.
On statistics there is a " subject " name it " distribution normal curve " ( or something like this. I don't now if that is the used therminology. I'm a roockie on the statitics subject. ) where over a " poblation " ( in our case: audio customers. ) they have a very specific " distribution " over that curve ( and due to some factros/parameters under " test "/research. ) and normally the main overall " customers " are around the midle of that curve, maybe 80% of them with 10% at each extremes ( all this is only an example. ).
Normally too product manufacturers want it to take the more from that 80% of customers on that specific market because is where there are the higher customer number on the whole " poblation ".
Normally this market is an " average " one on characteristics against both 10% extreme markets. Is in this average part of the curve where mediocrity belongs ( mediocrity means average means middle. It is not an insult but a fact. ).
Well for a manufacturer could success in this market normally too exist many factors but two very important is to be competitive on quality and with competitive or lower price than the market asked.
In this average market the customers are not too discriminating on product quality, they looks for similar characteristics at the best price and maybe warranty.
The vintage cartridge MM/MI market performs almost in the same way where the hardest/fierce market with the competition was that 80% average market.
The customers in this average market were: average knowledge/skills customers with average needs and average audio systems.
So what a cartridge manufacturer want to do it in this market, what product level design must put on the market to compete and take the customers attention? IMHO an average product whith the best quality that permit the market product price range. It can't compete ( in this market ) if the price is higher than competition, price is almost the name of the game in this average 80% of the market.
So the cartridges from different manufacturers that were/are in this specific " average " market are average cartridge quality performers designed with a very specific price on mind to take as more customers they can.
This price is the limitation that determine the cartridges average quality performance against " cost no object " same manufacturer cartridge designs.
I'm not saying that these average cartridges sound bad no because if sounded bad then belongs to that 10% of low quality market it sound good but nothing more than that. The customers in this average market are not asking for more and the manufacturer can't gives any more for that price.
Then there is that 10% top quality market where belongs customers with higher needs where customers have: higher knowledge level, skills, better and higher resolution audio systems, experience, better discerning level, better knowledge on music and audio subjects, with specific targets to improve and grow-up, better, better, better and better.....customer characteristics.
Here the cartridge manufacturer has different targets with his cartridge designs, examples in no order: to tell the competition its real capacity level they have, use top " technology " and cartridge build materials through several in deep tests for quality performance, execution design and quality control made it not only " by hand " but step by step ( time consuming for say the least. ), specific an estrictly cartridge voicing and cartridge comparisons with and against own manufacturer lesser cartridge designs and top cartridges competition, put in the market his statement cartridge " sample " where for a customer be " proud " to been an owner of that kind of product, " hand select " hand calibrated " models, etc, etc.
The customers in this 10% top quality market ask for nothing less than the best and " higher ".
All cartridge manufacturers have different price/quality level models to fulfill different kind of customer markets that has different level of quality needs.
We can take from those vintage designs, examples: Astatic top of the line is the MF-100 with a price according to that top level and below it comes a lot lower prices cartridges MF-200, 300 and 400. If we take ADC we have the top Astrion ( top price/quality ) and below the lesser and lower price QLM or XLM models. Sonus top Dimension Five model was surrounded for its little brothers as the Gold Blue or the Silver ones. Shure V15 was and is surrounded for a lot of lesser average and poor cartridge models, similar to Stanton or Empire or Ortofon or Denon that made it a more specific market share/division. Audio Technica 20SS or 180ML-OCC or AT-24 or AT-155LC or AT-ML 160 are surrounded for a lot of lesser cartridges as the 12S or 13-14S or 22 or 140LC or the sevens. Signet is no exeption the TK10ML Series two is surrounded for a big group of lesser models as the 3s-5s-7s and the like. Technics 100CMK4 is surrounded for 270s, 550s, 205s, etc, etc. AKG P100LE comes along the P7s,P8s,)24s and the like.
For whatever direction we move the eyes we see the same " behavior ".
Now, could we think that all those cartridge manufacturers are so stupid to left/leave that under almost any circumstances his " average or poor " cartridge models could not only been very close/near, even or outperform their " statement " cartridge designs? that the 270 could beats the 100CMK4, that the MF-300 outperform the MF-100 or that the 3s/5s//s/9/22/14SA/95 outperforms the TK10s or 20SSs or 24S or that the Shure 97Xe performs better than the 140HE or Ultra 500, or the OM5 in the Ortofon line beats the OM40, or the DL-103 beats the DL-1000A, etc, etc, etc?
IMHO certainly not, they are not so stupid. They are pro-manufacturers where we are amateur-audiophiles.
In the other side we have to think that the difference in price between the average market cartridge models against its top of the line brother surpass 100%-300%. Could you think that that high difference in price between different cartridge models quality performance comes " by free " with out offer nothing else ( on quality performance. ) to the customers other than a high price?, again: IMHO certainly not.
There are several reasons why a top of the line cartridge has a way better quality performance level and higher price than the down-steps in the cartridge line: different motor design ( even if we think or see it as similar. ), different build material quality ( that in a down model we " read " that has an aluminum cantilever and the top of the line ( example ) has an aluminum cantilever does not means are the same aluminum " class "/same shape. Its different. ), different stylus and stylus shape and even if we could think that because on both cartridge specs we read: nude elliptical 0.2 x 0.7mil, both have the same stylus we are wrong because the top of the line comes with a better polished level and grain oriented or anything else, different cartridge body, different suspension quality level, different internal electric characteristics, different coil wire and even how is wired, different cartridge voicing care, different, different.....different and here is where the price goes in favor of better cartridge quality performance.
Almost all " average " cartridge models share the " WOW factor " characteristic. This characteristic is a must on that market because the customers there need to be impressed " immediatly " if they did not then goes to the next brand. The cartridges in this average market are: " alive, punchy, powerful, higher output, easy to set-up, mid bass/lower midrange oriented, on the bright side on HF range, etc, etc., the customers here are not asking for high quality performance at both frequency extremes or very low distortions elsewhere. They ask for a decent sound/noise and an easy cartridge set-up.
The almost " plug&play " P-mount cartridge designs were developed for this specific market.
That WOW factor we can aware when we listen to these " average cartridges " and change to listen the top of the line:
if we are hearing the Sonus Gold Blue and suddenly change to the top Dimension 5 the sound change from " alive " to an almost " dull " and maybe non-emotional one even ( with the same cartridges output level. ) we " feel " that the SPL goes down by 1db or the like but the same happen when we go from the sevens to the 24 or TK10ML Series II or from the MMC3-4 to the MMC2-1. This happen in almost any cartridge line when we go from an average higher cartridge distortion performance to a lower distortion top cartridge performance.
Even with this kind of cartridge experience if we give the time to our ears/brain to switch to that top cartridge better quality performance then things goes on " the right place " puting each cartridge performance exactly where belongs.
The point here is not what we like it but what is wrong and what is right or better and why.
How can we know to which " market " each one of us belongs? where in the Learning Audio Curve are we seated?, because almost all of us think that we are at the top or very near the top, that we don't have to learn almost nothing and that's why we found out great high price audio systems brand names that performs " terrible " because even that all of us could think that that audio system is at the top its owner knowledge/skills levels belongs to " average ".
The other side is common too where a top and high knowledge/skills level person owns an " average " system that puts limitations for him can be aware of many audio system performance subjects as different kind of distortions.
In one example the person has the level to be aware of distortion differences but his system limitations can't shows it, in the other example even than the system has the resolution the person has not the training/experience to be aware of those same audio items distortions or other audio subjects.
To own and drive a Ferrari does not convert us in a Vettel, Alonso or Hamilton pilot's level in the same way that Hamilton driving a Honda Civic can't win a Formula One car-race.
I was speaking on specific about cartridges and distortion subjects but we can think in other audio items and other audio subjects too and the overall behavior is almost the same.
Several times these examples could explain people differences on opinion on the same subject related with quality performance level test/comparisons.
We can't think that because we can't hear in our system what other persons can ( and that is for example: a better quality performance or in other case a wrong /poor quality performance. ) in their systems then they are wrong ( when the one is wrong is him that can't hear it. ) or it can't be possible that happen that way.
I posted several time that money always help to improve an audio system but the main and most important and critical subject about is IMHO each one REAL knowlege/ignorance level we have, where are really seated on that Learning Audio Curve and no less important is to have a wide very wide open mind willing to LEARN from everywhere and from any one.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
+++++++ IMHO any market for almost any product has some kind of " distribution condition " where the different customers are or belong.
On statistics there is a " subject " name it " distribution normal curve " ( or something like this. I don't now if that is the used therminology. I'm a roockie on the statitics subject. ) where over a " poblation " ( in our case: audio customers. ) they have a very specific " distribution " over that curve ( and due to some factros/parameters under " test "/research. ) and normally the main overall " customers " are around the midle of that curve, maybe 80% of them with 10% at each extremes ( all this is only an example. ).
Normally too product manufacturers want it to take the more from that 80% of customers on that specific market because is where there are the higher customer number on the whole " poblation ".
Normally this market is an " average " one on characteristics against both 10% extreme markets. Is in this average part of the curve where mediocrity belongs ( mediocrity means average means middle. It is not an insult but a fact. ).
Well for a manufacturer could success in this market normally too exist many factors but two very important is to be competitive on quality and with competitive or lower price than the market asked.
In this average market the customers are not too discriminating on product quality, they looks for similar characteristics at the best price and maybe warranty.
The vintage cartridge MM/MI market performs almost in the same way where the hardest/fierce market with the competition was that 80% average market.
The customers in this average market were: average knowledge/skills customers with average needs and average audio systems.
So what a cartridge manufacturer want to do it in this market, what product level design must put on the market to compete and take the customers attention? IMHO an average product whith the best quality that permit the market product price range. It can't compete ( in this market ) if the price is higher than competition, price is almost the name of the game in this average 80% of the market.
So the cartridges from different manufacturers that were/are in this specific " average " market are average cartridge quality performers designed with a very specific price on mind to take as more customers they can.
This price is the limitation that determine the cartridges average quality performance against " cost no object " same manufacturer cartridge designs.
I'm not saying that these average cartridges sound bad no because if sounded bad then belongs to that 10% of low quality market it sound good but nothing more than that. The customers in this average market are not asking for more and the manufacturer can't gives any more for that price.
Then there is that 10% top quality market where belongs customers with higher needs where customers have: higher knowledge level, skills, better and higher resolution audio systems, experience, better discerning level, better knowledge on music and audio subjects, with specific targets to improve and grow-up, better, better, better and better.....customer characteristics.
Here the cartridge manufacturer has different targets with his cartridge designs, examples in no order: to tell the competition its real capacity level they have, use top " technology " and cartridge build materials through several in deep tests for quality performance, execution design and quality control made it not only " by hand " but step by step ( time consuming for say the least. ), specific an estrictly cartridge voicing and cartridge comparisons with and against own manufacturer lesser cartridge designs and top cartridges competition, put in the market his statement cartridge " sample " where for a customer be " proud " to been an owner of that kind of product, " hand select " hand calibrated " models, etc, etc.
The customers in this 10% top quality market ask for nothing less than the best and " higher ".
All cartridge manufacturers have different price/quality level models to fulfill different kind of customer markets that has different level of quality needs.
We can take from those vintage designs, examples: Astatic top of the line is the MF-100 with a price according to that top level and below it comes a lot lower prices cartridges MF-200, 300 and 400. If we take ADC we have the top Astrion ( top price/quality ) and below the lesser and lower price QLM or XLM models. Sonus top Dimension Five model was surrounded for its little brothers as the Gold Blue or the Silver ones. Shure V15 was and is surrounded for a lot of lesser average and poor cartridge models, similar to Stanton or Empire or Ortofon or Denon that made it a more specific market share/division. Audio Technica 20SS or 180ML-OCC or AT-24 or AT-155LC or AT-ML 160 are surrounded for a lot of lesser cartridges as the 12S or 13-14S or 22 or 140LC or the sevens. Signet is no exeption the TK10ML Series two is surrounded for a big group of lesser models as the 3s-5s-7s and the like. Technics 100CMK4 is surrounded for 270s, 550s, 205s, etc, etc. AKG P100LE comes along the P7s,P8s,)24s and the like.
For whatever direction we move the eyes we see the same " behavior ".
Now, could we think that all those cartridge manufacturers are so stupid to left/leave that under almost any circumstances his " average or poor " cartridge models could not only been very close/near, even or outperform their " statement " cartridge designs? that the 270 could beats the 100CMK4, that the MF-300 outperform the MF-100 or that the 3s/5s//s/9/22/14SA/95 outperforms the TK10s or 20SSs or 24S or that the Shure 97Xe performs better than the 140HE or Ultra 500, or the OM5 in the Ortofon line beats the OM40, or the DL-103 beats the DL-1000A, etc, etc, etc?
IMHO certainly not, they are not so stupid. They are pro-manufacturers where we are amateur-audiophiles.
In the other side we have to think that the difference in price between the average market cartridge models against its top of the line brother surpass 100%-300%. Could you think that that high difference in price between different cartridge models quality performance comes " by free " with out offer nothing else ( on quality performance. ) to the customers other than a high price?, again: IMHO certainly not.
There are several reasons why a top of the line cartridge has a way better quality performance level and higher price than the down-steps in the cartridge line: different motor design ( even if we think or see it as similar. ), different build material quality ( that in a down model we " read " that has an aluminum cantilever and the top of the line ( example ) has an aluminum cantilever does not means are the same aluminum " class "/same shape. Its different. ), different stylus and stylus shape and even if we could think that because on both cartridge specs we read: nude elliptical 0.2 x 0.7mil, both have the same stylus we are wrong because the top of the line comes with a better polished level and grain oriented or anything else, different cartridge body, different suspension quality level, different internal electric characteristics, different coil wire and even how is wired, different cartridge voicing care, different, different.....different and here is where the price goes in favor of better cartridge quality performance.
Almost all " average " cartridge models share the " WOW factor " characteristic. This characteristic is a must on that market because the customers there need to be impressed " immediatly " if they did not then goes to the next brand. The cartridges in this average market are: " alive, punchy, powerful, higher output, easy to set-up, mid bass/lower midrange oriented, on the bright side on HF range, etc, etc., the customers here are not asking for high quality performance at both frequency extremes or very low distortions elsewhere. They ask for a decent sound/noise and an easy cartridge set-up.
The almost " plug&play " P-mount cartridge designs were developed for this specific market.
That WOW factor we can aware when we listen to these " average cartridges " and change to listen the top of the line:
if we are hearing the Sonus Gold Blue and suddenly change to the top Dimension 5 the sound change from " alive " to an almost " dull " and maybe non-emotional one even ( with the same cartridges output level. ) we " feel " that the SPL goes down by 1db or the like but the same happen when we go from the sevens to the 24 or TK10ML Series II or from the MMC3-4 to the MMC2-1. This happen in almost any cartridge line when we go from an average higher cartridge distortion performance to a lower distortion top cartridge performance.
Even with this kind of cartridge experience if we give the time to our ears/brain to switch to that top cartridge better quality performance then things goes on " the right place " puting each cartridge performance exactly where belongs.
The point here is not what we like it but what is wrong and what is right or better and why.
How can we know to which " market " each one of us belongs? where in the Learning Audio Curve are we seated?, because almost all of us think that we are at the top or very near the top, that we don't have to learn almost nothing and that's why we found out great high price audio systems brand names that performs " terrible " because even that all of us could think that that audio system is at the top its owner knowledge/skills levels belongs to " average ".
The other side is common too where a top and high knowledge/skills level person owns an " average " system that puts limitations for him can be aware of many audio system performance subjects as different kind of distortions.
In one example the person has the level to be aware of distortion differences but his system limitations can't shows it, in the other example even than the system has the resolution the person has not the training/experience to be aware of those same audio items distortions or other audio subjects.
To own and drive a Ferrari does not convert us in a Vettel, Alonso or Hamilton pilot's level in the same way that Hamilton driving a Honda Civic can't win a Formula One car-race.
I was speaking on specific about cartridges and distortion subjects but we can think in other audio items and other audio subjects too and the overall behavior is almost the same.
Several times these examples could explain people differences on opinion on the same subject related with quality performance level test/comparisons.
We can't think that because we can't hear in our system what other persons can ( and that is for example: a better quality performance or in other case a wrong /poor quality performance. ) in their systems then they are wrong ( when the one is wrong is him that can't hear it. ) or it can't be possible that happen that way.
I posted several time that money always help to improve an audio system but the main and most important and critical subject about is IMHO each one REAL knowlege/ignorance level we have, where are really seated on that Learning Audio Curve and no less important is to have a wide very wide open mind willing to LEARN from everywhere and from any one.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.