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Do You Play Or Save Your Best Cartridges

I suspect I am like many here, I have a small collection of cartridges. Until recently I would keep a casual playing cartridge set up and I would save my "good" cartridges for evening listening sessions where I am focusing on listening to music at the listening chair. I always had a casual cartridge mounted on an arm, maybe an Audio Technica OC9 III or something along those lines. These days its either an Ortofon MC3000 II or MC5000. 

 

Earlier this year I finally decided to use the DAC in my Trinov pre amp, and this involved getting a subscription to Roon, and hardwiring the computer and preamp to the router with CAT 6 ethernet cable. The sound is remarkably good, to the point where this can easily be my casual listening format. 

I almost wonder if its necessary to have a casual cartridge. Or should I just play my best ones as often as I want and bite the bullet and know I am getting a new diamond fitted every few years. 

 

Anyone else go through this kind of decision process?

neonknight
mrmeaner
44 posts
 

Pardon the analogy but it’s a bit like saying “I’m never going to sleep with the Mrs to keep her nice & tight for the next guy!”

yoyoyaya's avatar
yoyoyaya
741 posts
 

I don't see the economic or sonic logic of having multiples of any hi-fi component.

jerry_gt3rs
82 posts
 

Years ago, I was driving from Boston to Hackensack and back a few times a month to see my wife that was doing her residency in NJ. A good friend of mine suggested that I should rent a car for the trips to keep the miles down on my car. I explained to him, the point of having a great car is to use and enjoy it, not save it for the next guy..That car, which I still own, made the trips faster and infinitely enjoyable than any car that I could rent, I have one cartridge and I love it, I have very limited opportunities to enjoy music each week, so why would I not enjoy it to it's fullest. 

gjohns
89 posts
 

The secret to having it all is knowing you already do. Happy listening 🎶

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 

I’ve three arms on two tables and 5 cartridges (and a 78rpm one) so I play them all. Each cartridge has its own personality. Depends on the music and mood. One scenario does get the most play with the best cartridge.

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