Agree w Moisin, Dougdeacon and Audiofiel. If you really want to get an idea of what can be done with a modest (by our insane standards) price cart on a good tt/arm, check out the long running thread on MM vs MC carts (if you have a few hours to spare). And I'll repeat my mantra- high resolution transducers at either end of the chain (for analog, cart and speakers) will spotlight deficiencies up or downstream as the case may be) like you wouldn't believe.
Anybody with an expensive TT try this????
Have you tried a cheapo cartridge (less than $50)? And how was the sound? Was it terrible or did it make you question, are the $1000 cartridges really worth it? Mike