Who needs MCs, anyway, unless one's got $100k plus system and impeccable hearing ? Then maybe, depending on music and sound preferences. Not my case.
Better spend extra cash on diamonds for women, this audiophile stuff is not worth much really. $100k, no more. |
$400 -$1100, I'd say. But at least $4000 table/arm and $1000 phono, no way around it. Streaming is streaming and analog is analog.
Morning. |
Well, most people follow herd instinct and nourish their narcissism. Interesting combination, isn't it ? So whatever they do will be trivial.
I just wonder what is going to happen when good food becomes 10 times more expensive? If this happens people who at present buy $10k cartridges without auditioning will become hunted, hopefully only for money to buy food not to have them for dinner. But who knows ? Someone might want to hunt me too - yes, I did buy $995 cables once ! Yes, without auditioning. But I am well familiar with the brand and I consulted with those whose opinion I could trust. |
To address another point regarding cartridges of, say, similar level sounding different, of course they sound different, though it is hard to hear them sound without arm, table and phono. It is called coloration. Turntables of similar level also sound different, again hard to listen to them without cartridge. Coloration as well. The whole vinyl based system is colored big time. If you want less coloration get a reel to reel deck and master tape dubs. Same with tube rolling - different kinds of coloration, substituting one with another. Still can be better than metallic and lacking natural complexity transistors. |
It does bother me, at the very least what I can do is not buy cartridges at those prices, especially without auditioning in my system, regardless of whether or not I can afford them, that's irrelevant. I can afford a $50 cup of coffee in New York from time to time, I never buy it and never will. Nor will I allow anyone to buy it for me, by the way.
If someone got a problem with this thread and the OP one can easily take a hike and go buy one of those cartridges. While you do that try to think about the concept of intrinsic value, unless it would burden your intellect too much of course.
What a bunch. |
So much emotions around f. cartridges and often no less f. dealers. Don't we have anything better to discuss ? In any case, table/arm and phono are much more important. Put any modern $1000 MM in great arm with great table and phono and it will be capable of more than most can hear.
Vintage cartridges are only for experts or if you have friends who are experts. Besides, there wouldn't be enough for everyone.
If you think that better MMs don't have enough speed and resolution you are wrong, check the rest of your chain and the wall current.
Anyway, tape is the only true audiophile medium, except direct to disc recordings, don't bother too much. |
Anyone knows how it is in other countries ? The UK, Germany, Japan, Canada etc. ?
I heard that some Japanese and German audiophiles can pay insane amounts of money for stuff like cables and cartridges too, but I don't know whether they would do it without auditioning first. |
Of course. But some audiophiles, not me , can set up the table better than most dealers. This service should not cost too much, say, $200-$300 plus paid travel time to your home and back plus travel expenses. |
This is a perfectly normal and legitimate thread. The approach to that is a personal choice - some just buy, others just not, yet others buy many used one by one and then choose.
There are few real dealers left. And if I can't audition cartridge I don't need dealers and distributors, I should be able to buy directly from manufacturers. Too many people collect money while doing little or nothing. |
95% have-nots service 5% haves, more so in Russia, some Asian and South American countries. This country is currently moving in the direction of third world countries, somewhere in-between right now.
So I will actively participate in this extreme capitalism. I will buy nothing regardless of cost and whether or not I can afford it unless the terms are reasonable as judged by me. Simple enough. |
On a more personal note, they can go have themselves with these prices. So can those who pay these prices. No cartridge is worth $5k let alone more, but in this kind of bazaar economy strange things happen and this is not the strangest one. $5k for a very good turntable is okay, for a very good tonearm - BS. |
Better Japanese MC cartridges prices are so high in the US because people like you are prepared to pay what is asked. " Like you " does not necessarily means you, I think you hesitate.
Don't pay it, period. UK prices are sometimes lower, from authorized dealers, but still high. Try analogueseduction.net
This is all not really my problem, I will stay with MM or maybe try used MC at some point.
For some audiophiles $5k cartridge is not expensive, they buy it and if they don't like it they sell it for $1k. No big deal, next $5k cartridge..
|
