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

kennyc, yes.

The big question is can you enjoy your $10K cartridge more than I enjoy my $2K cartridge? I ask because I have never enjoyed a system more than my $100 Sears Silvertone suitcase stereo when I was in college. It must have had a steel stylus. Smoke a joint and listen to Stravinsky's Firebird with my girlfriend next to me in bed. I will never have that musical enjoyment again, but I do still get deeply into music sometimes. And when I'm in that musical mood, $!K cartridge, $2K, $50K, it wouldn't matter. Just give my porous brain the music.

Yes, but you need a considerable investment in playback equipment to realize the ∆.

I auditioned a Koetsu Jade platinum on a Technics SL1000R using my <$4500 Odyssey electronics and Harbeth P3s. It sounded pretty damn good (noticeably better than my Hana SL/Technics SL1200 GR). When the dealer switched to a BAT Rex II phono pre it sounded strikingly better! (Note: I couldn't afford any of that; the dealer was an old college buddy who was just happy to visit).

I think the 10% rule applies here (cartridge should cost no more than 10% of your system cost). You can spend more, and yes, it will sound better, but you will not be realizing its full potential.

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.

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.

Surely whichever component (including cables) is the least transparent is the rate-limiting factor? And since improving on any bottleneck component makes everything downstream from it sound better, removing bottlenecks closest to the source have the greatest potential gains? That's what baffles me about "rules" like the "10% rule" quoted above.