Raymonda from months ago. I own a Benz Ruby 3 since 2006 ($3000). It is mounted on a what once sold for $1100 arm, the SME IV (modified). It last sold for about $4,000 a few years ago. So, I had a 30 year old arm with a 12 year old cartridge on a VPI TNT VI.
I consider this less than SOTA but high-end. The reason I am still using the cartridge after 2500+ hours is cleanliness (stylus cleaned with a Magic Eraser every record side), mostly clean LPs, proper VTF and VTA (set-up). I will continue to use this expensive cartridge until it does show signs of wear (maybe another 500+ hours). The point is that expensive cartridges can last a long time and provide so many hours of enjoyment that the annual cost is greatly reduced and I don't feel the need to "upgrade" from here. Plus, the initial cost of a high quality arm in the 80s became inflated as everyone noted.
Also, the lack of smog in the past 15 years in the NW San Fernando Valley (previously the smog capital of the country was L.A.) does not destroy the rubber parts of the cartridge like it did in the 60's to the 80's when my expensive Dynavector's died after 3 short years (stylus was fine, the cantilevers froze from hardened rubber mounting).
I consider this less than SOTA but high-end. The reason I am still using the cartridge after 2500+ hours is cleanliness (stylus cleaned with a Magic Eraser every record side), mostly clean LPs, proper VTF and VTA (set-up). I will continue to use this expensive cartridge until it does show signs of wear (maybe another 500+ hours). The point is that expensive cartridges can last a long time and provide so many hours of enjoyment that the annual cost is greatly reduced and I don't feel the need to "upgrade" from here. Plus, the initial cost of a high quality arm in the 80s became inflated as everyone noted.
Also, the lack of smog in the past 15 years in the NW San Fernando Valley (previously the smog capital of the country was L.A.) does not destroy the rubber parts of the cartridge like it did in the 60's to the 80's when my expensive Dynavector's died after 3 short years (stylus was fine, the cantilevers froze from hardened rubber mounting).