I am reminded of Mikey Fremer's blind test of 8 cartridges a few years ago which you can still find on Analog Planet. He set up sound samples for us to listen to of cartridges ranging in price from just a few hundred dollars for a few MM to over $8000 for an Ortofon Anna. The majority of participants preferred an Audio Technica MM cartridge overall that retailed for about $750 at the time. Later it was revealed that Mikey had inadvertently set the gain wrong or something, which kind of spoiled the outcome, but really only by a whisker. The point is that the differences are not so great between well designed and set up cartridges as we might think, and it is possible to obtain stellar results from modest cartridges if you are meticulous about setup. I happen to own both the $750 cartridge that won Mikey's competition and a Soundsmith Hyperion ($8000) and can tell you for a fact that there is not a great a difference between them. By every account the Hyperion is among the top cartridges in the world. So one answer to your question might be $750.
At what price point do I run into diminishing returns on an MC Cartridge?
I need to replace my MC cartridge. I've had limited experience with them but I have certainly noticed a dramatic difference in performance. My first 3 were priced at $500 Sumiko, $900 Ortofon and $5000 Linn Kandid. The difference between my first cartridge and second - nearly double in price, was a very noticeable improvement. Then I took the plunge and spent $5000 (after tax) for my Linn Kandid cartridge. The difference and improvement in the quality of sound was startling. The soundstage was like nothing I'd ever heard before. Coupled with my newly acquired McIntosh MP 1100 phono pre-amp and I was hearing things in LP's that quite frankly I had never heard before. Amazing! So here's the question: At what price point do I run into seriously diminished returns on a cartridge investment? I rather doubt I'm going to have "double" the quality of sound that I received with my Linn Kandid cartridge if e.g. I went up to a $10K cartridge. So, my question to you audiophiles with loads of experience, what is your opinion on what price point (neighborhood) would take me to a place where every dollar spent thereafter would yield only micro returns. Said another way, what is the best price point to take anyone to the the same neighborhood as a person with "money to burn" on cartridges? BTW, I realize there are probably some pearls that don't cost nearly as much - and that money doesn't always buy you love. If you KNOW of those do tell.