Cartridges

For *me*, based on your post, I would definitely drop the cart high bar to where I mentioned and focus on building record collection up. My 2c

i would rather have great vintage original pressings and a modest cartridge than a great cartridge and new pressings.
 

+1 there’s your answer 

the problem is not only the cost of great pressings, but the shoe leather it takes to find them. and how to know condition without buying 5 or 6 to find a quiet one. putting together a great collection of vintage early pressings is borderline impossible unless you can buy a collection already already curated.

so buying a great cartridge and buying easier to source new and more available used is more real world for someone starting out. you still get great sound.

but if given a choice, i would rather have great vintage original pressings and a modest cartridge than a great cartridge and new pressings. but it’s not a choice most of us can ever make.

i would caution anyone jumping into the Tom Port 'Hot Stamper' cauldron blindly without first doing their homework. and knowing what is what takes time and effort.

I just spent two days at the Capital Audiofest.  On each of those days I spent 1-2 hours looking at and buying LPs.  I ended up with about 20 new purchases (some brand new, some used).  What struck me most was the astronomical prices for good used vinyl.  $100 for an LP was not uncommon although that was about as high in price as I saw.  Like Mijostyn, I am not a buyer of a $100 LP, but I can say that because I already have a large collection of vintage and new LPs, many of which, I now know, could be seen by someone else as costing $100 or more. Sheesh!

I really appreciate all you guy’s thoughts! Very helpful for me. I admit, my system probably does not warrant a 12k cart based on the cost of the other components. It would be the most expensive piece. But, right or wrong, I’ve heard that it should It should be. Solypsa thanks for this recommendations! My settings consists of:

Pass Int 60 amp

 Parasound JC 3+ phono stage

VPI Classic 1 w/Transfig Axia (upgraded but not sure which tonearm upgrades it has) 

Volti Razz Speakers

digital is:

Innuos Zenith MK3

innuos Phoenix USB

Ayre DB 9 DAC w/20 upgrade

i have upgraded interconnect and power cables that are good. The speaker cable are probably the weakest they’re very old audio quest granite which sound pretty darn good compared to some of the cables I’ve tried all the other cables I’ve tried were not really pricey ones.

For this discussion I’m sure it doesn’t matter about the digital set. But you know the digital sound is what I am comparing the analog to. I am really kind of torn on whether to put a lot of money in the analog versus just spending a reasonable amount on a better DAC because the prices of good records are so high. I just got back into stereo about a year ago so I don’t have a good collection of records. Streaming is so much cheaper by comparison! But analog seems so much easier on the ears for me at similar volumes to the digital.

I'd never even consider buying a record that would cost as much as a good cartridge. No 'hot stampers' here, please...

Dynavector XV-1S
 

👍 +1

A few recommendations:

From the lines I carry:

Aidas Gala Gold ( 24kt windings ) $6200 as Fremer said does nothing wrong ...

Tedeska DST201us Torres ( silver windings ) $6200 

Or from lines I dont deal with:

Dynavector XV-1S

Phasemation PP 2000

Have heard the Grado Epoch 3 several times and not my cup of coffee! Very blah sounding with no life to the music, yes very nice midrange but the top end and fir that matter bottom end can't keep up with the midrange IMHO

I am not totally sold on the Epoch yet. I would like to see what Grado is using for a stylus. I also will not spend more than $100 for a record and I have very few 100 dollar records. 
 

In order to get the performance out of a great recording you need a great record playing system. I put the record and the system in two entirely separate compartments. As was said above you need both.

The cartridge depends on the tone arm and the phono stage.

Best cartridge/arm/table/phono preamp.

or

a new car

What table and arm are you going to put the $12000.00 Grado on?  What are the other components in your system?

Axia to Epoch 3 is indeed a big jump, price wise. You would have to determine if your table/arm/phono could also support the improvements.

Even looking at $6k carts opens doors to a large uptick in performance imho

Have heard stellar reviews

Solypsa I have a Transfiguration Axia now and yes, thinking about going to a top end Grado Epoch 3 or maybe something a little less. I know the Grado is a MI and not MC like the Axia but, have ready stellar reviews.

I'd say always get the best cartridge you can afford, whatever that might be.

What cartridge have you got and what cartridge are you thinking about? Premium quality records are always to be sought but in neither case ( cartridge or LP) does cost necessarily correlate with performance. I am not a believer in hot stampers, so far as that goes.

I would say great pressings are always best, but I personally wont pay the 4 digits some command. Meanwhile good cart but maybe not ’ultra premium’. What this means varies among people. Strictly based on cost I would think ultra premium is over $9k. Is that what you had in mind?

Get both.