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Cartridges: Complete Scam?

I’m very new to analog, and researching my options on forums I keep coming across the same sentiment: that past the ultra low-end cartridges, there is very little gains in actual sound quality and that all you’re getting are different styles and colorations to the sound.

So, for example, if I swapped out my $200 cartridge that came with my table for a Soundsmith, Dynavector, Oracle, etc, I may notice a small improvement in detail and dynamics, but I’m mostly just going to get a different flavor. Multiple people told me they perffered thier old vintage cartridges over modern laser-cut boron-necked diamonds.

It’s possible that these people are just desperately defending thier old junk and/or have never heard high end audio. But if what they’re saying is true, than the cartridge industry is a giant SCAM. If I blow 2.5k minimum on an Air Tight I better get a significant improvement over a $200 bundler — and if just all amounts to a different coloration, than that is a straight-up scam ripoff.

So guys — are these forums just BS-ing me here? Is it really a giant scam?
madavid0
rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
Dear @folkfreak : You are rigth/correct. All those set up parameters/tools are important.

Now, what I'm refering here is in specific: overhang, P2S distance and offset angle.
This is the tonearm manufacturer own responsability. No one else.

AZ and  VTA/SRA:   normally you make it by ears. What I mean is that the tools you mentioned about can help but the final/fine tunning of those two parameters you make by ears according/following to your own room/system evaluation tests proccess.

In reference to test record I almost do not use any more even that I own no less than 20 different test records.

As you know as more and more experience and learning job we have as more easy the whole set up but those set up parameters that are handled by a tonearm protractor.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.


rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
Dear @raymonda : The tonearm manufacturer protractor has to have 100% accuracy and that you can use it " thousands " of times if necessary. Paper just does not works as protrcator.

R.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
You’re darned right the’re a scam. I started playing my 78s without using a cartridge at all. Emboldened by the excellent results, I moved on to 45s. And now I play my LPs without a blood sucking, audiophile scamming, cartridge as well.

The background noise is now inaudible and I don’t have to get up to change the record either. Thanks fo the tip.
stevecham
3,298 posts
 
Inna: hahahahahahahahaha, "you cartridge guys," you're killing me.

Viridian: interesting idea, and budget worthy too, but, something must be wrong because none of my catridges has sucked my blood, at least yet.

Madavid: You should have all the answers to your important questions by now and can make informed and rational decisions regarding vinyl playback, and, you're welcome.

Everyone else: KUDOS! 


inna
5,245 posts
 
Cartridge alignment is like cleaning records. Whatever you do it will never be perfect. No wonder people always upgrade cartridges instead of aligning the old ones properly. Many report that Mint protractor is currently the most accurate tool. So whatever you used before it gave you misalighned cartridges. Mint also gives you cartidges that are off the alignment, you simply don't know it yet and maybe even cannot accept that it might be the case. Good luck, anyway. 
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