A pragmatic view of cartridge expenses / many questions

I know I was at one where EAR's TDP had brought a Working Design for a ESL57 Powered by a Lethal Voltage Direct Coupled Amp.

To do this date I remain with a very memorable positive impression, and use Elecrostatics as a result.

I was also able to Audition the Launch of the Lorricraft Garrard TT at one of these Shows,  I bought a 401 as a result, then had it overhauled by Martin Bastin and had a 125lb - 60Kg Granite Plinth Produced for it,
and adorned it with a Mounted a SME IV.
I only sold the TT and Plinth a few years ago, which was a regret, as there was a Sentiment with it.
I missed the Idler Drive and now have a replacement which is much more user friendly for the Logistics, when going on a Visit to another premises.

As said before, I support Social Events, as a extension of my enthusiasm for HiFi.
One Club Event I visit which is a 400 Mile Round Trip for me, has the meeting place in the Audition Room at the Premises of a Purveyor of 
Hi End HiFi Devices.
All attendees devices that are brought for a Debut Presentation as a New Build, Improved on Build, or a Purchased device are auditioned on the Resident HiFi System.
The day evolves into a Period where the Vinyl offerings are the main interest.
This is a Event that is called randomly so no fixed dates, it is at the Premises Owners Discretion for when his time allows for it.
There is a interest outside of the Group Members and Professionals in the HiFi Industry attend, Directors of HiFi Manufacturing Companies,
renowned Custom Builders of HiFi, Very Skilled DIY Builder HiFi Enthusiasts, and even HiFi Magazine and Internet Site Journalists.

The Attendees know a thing or two, I feel it is safe to assume.

What is off most interest, is when a DIY Enthusiast Builder brings along a Homebuilt Device that has cost them a £200ish component value and how the impression it has made is very positive and there is a disbelief that the Device can perform as it does.
As the day unfolds in ascending values, it does not take long before the weaknesses in a Budget Build are starting to be indentified as the improved Devices will be clearly out in front.

I myself have been extremely impressed by devices brought for Audition, and have desired to learn more of the Devices that have left good impressions.
I have also brought along Devices for a Audition to which I received very good feed back, one of which was a show stopper and remained in use for a quite extended period, and not the usual audition time allocation.

Member of this Group, Company Director, Custom Builders,  as well as the Premises Owner Auditioned my System at the event I exhibited at,
and in Private Conversation, informed me I was the most impressive System they had heard all day, and I had changed their pre conceived conceptions about certain devices, and they were going to investigate further.
One of those devices being a Rebuilt Cartridge.

The Rebuilt Cartridge has one other unintended Comparison that it was subjected to, especially when considering it was attached to a Tonearm that was pre prepared to show of a Rare Cartridge Design that was costing Multiple £££££'s.
The Outcome was quite unexpected and the agreement was unanimous for the Quality of the Performance Rebuilt Cartridge.

As said my Knowledge of how to Measure a Device is non existent,
I entrust that to other who are more educated and skilled.
I am pleased with how spending time with Individuals who can broaden my experience, has helped me to be selective in my chosen devices,
with my producing a System that for myself is thoroughly enjoyed,
and has been very well regarded by others, of all different backgrounds in HiFi, who have had their experience of listening to it.    



      

It would seem at present there is consistent pricing for the MC Cartridge Brands are seen as the affordable of the more exotics.

£-$3500 - £-$4500 would be seen as a Price Range where a discount is not available.

My following report is the not so common route taken to producing a Exotic Cartridge,but there is much to be achieved, for a very fair outlay. 
The only limitation I can see in this as a method is the Generator Coil
Metal will remain.
In my case that is a Six 9's Pure Silver. 

I had a MC Cartridge rebuild that consists of a Specific Attention to the performance of the MC undertaken by the rebuild engineer,
combined with exchanging the Damping/Suspension to a design that belongs to much more expensive models in the MC Brands Exotic Models and a choice of Exotic options used for the Cantilever and Diamond.
With the Donor Cartridge Costs added to the Build Cost, I have a unique Exotic Equivalent Cartridge for a Cost of 20% of a Branded Exotic MC's retail price.

This is a method worth consideration,  as with a retip of the rebuild
 (when required) at a later date, the unique rebuilt cartridge and follow up retip can easily offer 2000+ of replay for approximately a cost of £1000 if both cartridge services are carried out by the cartridge owner.

I am so impressed with this build, having heard it A/B compared to a lows hours Donor Cartridge and a much more Exotic Cartridge from the same brand.
I did not hesitate or rest until I had secured a second  identical Donor Cartridge, that is now in storage.

My reply was intended for audioquest4life who was inquiring about owner/user thoughts on a using and maintaining a expensive cartridge.

The OP has expressed that are in their view,  a Cartridge is a consumable (hence the tyre reference) and their inquiry is based on how expensive cartridge owners choices are made to maintain it when the time arrives for this.

The OP expressed a lust to own a High End Cartridge, but was also wanting to know if it was a Sunday Best type approach for some owners who may user a lesser value cartridge for general listening.
My suggestion to the OP is a method to enable them to get to a Place where a Cartridge that is of a Unique Build, that will comfortably sit with a Cartridge that is a £-$ 3000+ retail value MC.
For the outlay if this as a option is to be considered, it might also seem that this is a Cartridge that can be used for all occasions and may not need to have a Second Cartridge as a Substitute, if that were so, then the OP would see a further benefit is saved outlay.

I myself entered into my latest Cartridge Experience with similar thoughts, as I have low usage Hours MM's, High Out MC and a MC.
Not one of these spare Cartridges has been put into service since my Rebuild has been in use.
The sale of one of the spare Cartridges will be more than enough raised funds to cover the Retip for the rebuild when the time arrives.   

I personally would refer to a Branded Cartridge costing over £-$1500 as a Market Place entry into offering a High End/Exotic range from a Company that produces Cartridges Model Range.

I also would refer to a retail value for Branded Cartridges more than £-$3000+, as being a Company's representation of setting the bar for the level of High End/Exotic on offer from their Model Range.

I hope my post to the OP has helped them to consider an alternative avenue for investigation, and help them see for a reasonable budget there is a option to achieve a very attractive MC in both Purchase Value and Performance. 

I am in agreement that there are going to be Cartridge Brands that might prove to have a requirement for a part that is only obtainable through the Manufacturer, or a Second Donor Cartridge.
My experience was as sure footed as one could want.
The Technician is known for their Workmanship and
their Freelance History of working on the Cartridge Designs for a Cartridge Producing Company.

No work is to undetaken until a suitability check is carried out through a a pre' rebuild Inspection.
There is a chance the the Technician carrying out the Inspection may have to report back that a certain part is in a condition that is unusable and the rebuild will not work to the level of the required Specification.
( I know this is a possibility, as I know of Cartridge Owners who have been supplied this information) 
This Service when used myself, does not produce a Cartridge that will Play Music after a Service like some known Services, which in cases proves to be a lesser quality than the Manufacturers Original Product,
but has a sound quality that is perceived as improved over the poor condition Donor Cartridge that received a treatment.

The rebuild Service used by myself, is a Rebuild Service that will supply a Cartridge in its Original Build Spec, but having undergone extensive Quality Control Measures, from microscopic intensive cleaning, through to replacing the Parts with Manufacturers Parts, followed up by multiple hours of measurements and adjustment, to ensure the Cartridges Specification is exact.

Or in my case, the Rebuild Cartridge is Producing a Cartridge that has the original Generator Coils retained, with a complete exchange of Parts
that are used on much more High End/Exotic Models,
each configuration being chosen, is selected with the Technicians understanding through discussion with the Cartridge Owner preference for the Cartridge Presentation.
The Cartridge will undergo a Microscopic intensive cleaning, along with the  Rebuild, and on completion will put through multiple hours of measurements and adjustment.

I have become a fan of this Technicians work, and after having investigated as much of his Rebuilds as possible through Web Searches can only say he has many supporters.

To help the OP with their investigations, I have sent a PM to show them the contact for the Rebuild Service and assess the supplied information for accuracy.  

      

Who would have thought that offering a suggestion to a OP, would have resulted in my previous posts having snippets of previous supplied information being Cherry Picked and used as a foundation for a challenge on my serious lack of knowledge for knowledge of what a HiFi System should be.
I do have a Idler Drive TT, it is used for about 10 Hours a year in my system, but is a TT I am happy to take to other Individuals Premises,
so they can be introduced to and audition a Idler Drive in their Systems,
it is interesting how some who have had the experience, had sought out a Idler Drive following such a social get together of a few enthusiasts.

If I were to interpret a previous comment about my Idler Drive that is owned, it is a pleasure that there are enthusiasts who when experiencing a Idler Drive for their first time are able to enjoy a TT that is off a place of 'mediocrity and average'.
 
For the record, my daily in use TT is not a Idler Drive.
 
I put my hands up, I don't do Technical Analysis, like the multiples of other enthusiasts who don't either, but who still appear to achieve a Sound Quality from their Systems that they are finding very satisfying.

I am no different, as I have entrusted myself to those much more knowledgeable than myself, being reliant on their Professionalism and Skills, with the outcome being that I have produced my system to suit my preferences over many years,  and as a result, own one that is in use regularly and thoroughly enjoyed by myself and all who visit to audition it.
As the most important part of listening to music for me is the Social Aspect, I like to share in listening to recorded music with friends, in the same manner I would at a live event.
I make the time to listen to music  alone when I am trialling a device or a component, get a new album, or needing a Time Out, from that point on the music is a background music or part of a evening with my Wife,
or a dedicated session to listen tom the System with invited guests.   

As I am also able to visit HiFi enthusiasts at their own premises, due to belonging to a 'Enthusiasts  Group' and a Forum where invites are offered to members, these opportunities are a plus to my support for creating social and shared interest HiFi meet Ups.
This will also be very beneficial to me to keep my mind broadened and not insular when it comes to experiencing HiFi.
There are still times that I will visit a retail premises, especially ones that have very expensive devices for audition, as this is the level of replay that I aspire to.
I ensure my experience does not keep me insular in my HiFi experiences
and get great pleasure in experiencing the works of others.

I am totally confident there are numerous devices I have had the opportunity to audition, that have measured correctly in every parameter,
but I was not perceiving the device as a device to be aspired to by myself.

My system is tuned to me, and that is all that matters, even with a System that in my view is in a place that is totally satisfying to myself and that has made a very good impression on those who have visited to audition it,
I am still happy to learn and see what is available at the different interfaces that are easily accessible. 

Is it necessary for there being requests made for a need to supply measurements to confirm that a Perceived Improvement in SQ has a validity.
Does a Person need to supply a measurement to reinforce the experience, that shows how when they exchanged a few Cap's and Resistors,  a unimproved or improvement was discovered in a Perceived Sound ?
Does a Person need to supply a measurement to reinforce the experience, that when they exchanged a ABEC 7 bearing to a ABEC 9 bearing and replaced the Tonearm Internal wire, there was a
unimproved or improvement in the Perceived Sound Quality. 
 
Are measurements required to support a exercise in
Tube Rolling NOS vs Modern Tubes, that ended up with a reduction from Six Matched different Brand Pairs, down to two types remaining as being strong contenders, those being a Matched Pair of Mullard ECC83 Tubes, that after careful consideration were outperformed to my Perception by a Matched Pair  Mullard CV4004 M8137, which have remained in the device.
 The same as stated above applies to any experiences being undertaken,
if there was a exercise in trialling,
NOS vs Modern Tube Rolling of 6SN7 and ECC88/E88CC.
Does it require a presentation of measurements to convince others that the preferred selection to be used was the correct choice for the individual ? 


What 'in my view' matters is how the individual exposing themselves to the experience is Perceiving the Sound Quality, as they are the individuals who are unique in their preferences and will be living with their choices when made
The more a individual has made the efforts to have a broad experience of HiFi Devices and Systems, the more clear they will be in what they are hoping to gain from their choices being made with their budget constraints.

As said, I do support a Social Element of being involved with HiFi.
Not too long ago, I chose to attend a Enthusiast Event, where the Exhibitors Systems are brought to the venue and put on display for the Entry Fee Paying Visitors to be able to Audition.
At the above event, there where 500 Visitors who Paid a £20 Entrance Fee.
After a period of time from the off set my Exhibit Room was full and I could not manage all the requests for individuals selections of music to be replayed.
There was a need to invite individuals back to receive their opportunity.
The available seats were never empty between 10.00am and 16.00pm,
there was very limited standing space, and there was a queue in the corridor outside.
This was not expected by myself, but the rapport and enthusiasm and communication taking place was overwhelming and thoroughly enjoyable.

The experience of being openly informed in the room by the Visitors that in their opinion the System being experienced was the best in show,
was again for me a totally unexpected happening, I genuinely thought I was going to be meeting a steady trickle of Visitors.
 
How many of my visitors that openly declare, that when at my home my system is delivering in a very special way, to date all.
At a Exhibition where 50 Systems that are owned by enthusiasts, and are put out for Audition by 500 Visitors, I do not know how many of those 500 visitors listened to my system, but I know how busy my Exhibit Room was.
How many of those visitors was  impressed with my System,
I do not know ?
What is known is that there was a 'Rebuilt Cartridge' being used, it had no usage by myself, as it was to be set up on the TT by a friend when at the Exhibition, at the commencement of it being used the
Rebuilt Cartridge had approximately 20 Hours usage on it,
as a result of the rebuild Technicians Testing. 

I am usually extending and broadening my own personal experience with HiFi and have used this experience to help with my choices I have made for my Systems Devices, as well as selected Interface components.
On the Day I chose to Extend and Broaden the experience of my System by introducing it to many other individuals,  that decision and experience may over time prove be my most memorable day ever in being a
HiFi Enthusiast.   

I really don't feel the need to supply a Trio of Cartridges Brands or a Selection of Rarely used Materials, that a Marketing Department and
HiFi Reviewer will refer to as a 'Exotic Material'. 

To be helpful though to those who might be interested,
If there is a interest showing for some visiting this thread for gathering knowledge about Cartridge Development and
Modern Design Conceptions as a result of the availability of materials that will support the design,
then the Mutech Hyabusa will fit into this role in my opinion.
       

Interesting, One of my early ventures over a few years, when I started my earliest investigations into building my System by visiting places beyond the High Street was at the Ramada Heathrow Show.

A man who was very instrumental from this Era, in introducing me to what a System can sound like when selected properly was Luigi who worked at HiFi Confidential in Victoria.
He knew I had the Bug and was of little means to spend on the equipment he had for sale.
That didn't stop him from allowing me to experience his Systems over a few year period. 
Who knows that might be where the Social Side of the experience was born for me.