Is there usually a dramatic difference between $5k and $10k cartridges ?

They sound too different, my man, to sound right. That's the point.

Doesn't it bother you people that cartridges sound so different ?

Bugatti is real bad for the ecology. But if you must engage in this BS it's not any Italian, it's Koenigsegg. You know how to drive, anyway ? It's quite different from comparing cartridges.

Exactly. Unlike cables, that in my view should be one step ahead of the active components or you won't hear what your system is capable of.

kennyc, yes.

I think, some did answer with experience. Besides, the interpretation of "dramatic difference" can vary. But there is some BS, no doubt.

Yeah, some do it right. Later Pink Floyd used Van den Hul cables. They needed two miles of them, as Gilmour said, and they got it.

Ralph, I suppose you are right, but I was talking about reproduction outside recording studios.

dwette, excellent plan. Boulder is top level of SS amplification.

dwette, I see. Do you also have Boulder preamp and power amp ?

Well, some recording studios use $5 per mile cables to make recordings. This doesn't mean that your audiophile cables don't make them sound better than similar $5 per mile cables. They do. Better equipment makes everything sound better, regardless of the quality of the recordings. The degree will vary.

dwette, what table/arm do you use with Lyra ?

I bet, at this level I would choose Japanese MC as well. I don't like too much energy in high frequences. Japanese understand sound, no doubt about it.

mulveling, judging by your description Ortofon doesn't sound appealing. Do you like Lyra cartridges ?

Putting Ralph's # 1 at the center, how do you choose cartridge that your arm will track perfectly ? And we are talking about extremely expensive cartridges here, no margin for error unless you want to end up with BS.

mulveling, you just seem to like cartridges more than the rest of analogue front end! And I like the table more than others.

It is not a mistake to think like I do - it is a different approach. And I follow it.

Why not ? After all, six is not sixty, that was reasonable.

Interesting power cord comparison with your Sound Labs.

And speaking of tonearm/cartridge match..

I'll let others speak, I don't know much about it.

ghdprentice, of course.

I once put $2k power cord on $1k integrated amp and it was much better compared to $500 power cord, let alone $100 power cord.

$30k table, $15k arm, $25k phono stage and you may be ready for $10k cartridge. Or perhaps it is $40k table and $10k arm. Whatever. And don't forget about tonearm cable, it is the most important cable in the entire chain. Oh, and motor controller for the table. That would be excellent though still not top of the line analogue front end.

Kiseki Purple Heart is highly thought of cartridge among those in the know. Beyond my reach, or the capability of my phono stage.

So....

The short answer to the question - it depends but often yes.

Interesting discussion.

rossb, what table/arm/phono stage do you have ?

House sound is more important. This sounds right to me.

Exactly. And phono stage should be two/three times more expensive than the cartridge, assuming the prices reflect the quality relatively accurately.

In other words, $10k cartridge is for a very high end front end and the entire system.

It is just easier for most people to upgrade the cartridge than other components of the turntable based front end, and in fact less expensive, except for tonearm cable.

That's a good approach, I think, because any other one will drive you crazy.

mulveling, this sounds almost like rocket science to me.

If they sound "worlds apart" then is it possible that none of them sounds right ? Or it is more like fine musical instruments that are different but both sound right ?

mulveling, that's what I assumed. No guarantee, let alone "dramatic difference".

For some of us $5k difference is nothing but for many it is a lot.

Personally, I would not play this MC game and would seek out best vintage MM cartridges. But that's me.

Yes, Raul, I don't expect a simple answer, I am interested in discussion.

Perhaps it would be better in most cases to first seriously upgrade tonearm before even thinking about $10k plus cartridges. Not to mention table and phono stage.

Well, you need a $30k phono stage, $30k table and $15k tonearm for that Etsuro to make full sense, I suppose.

I have never heard such expensive cartridges. It's for $50k analogue front end, I don't operate in that territory.

I am simply interested in others' impressions.