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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
madavid0 OP
127 posts
 
@arkanya Thanks for real info.

Okay guys, I ended up hedging my bets with a AT-OC9ML/II which appears to be a very well-regarded, and also not cheap, cartridge with a boron and Micro-Line stylus. I used a $10 mirrored protractor to dial it in and a $10 scale to set the tracking force. I have a magnified visor with LED headlamp that was invaluable for doing this -- it's almost impossible to to see the stylus tip without the aid of magnification.

Guys, it doesn't sound good. Lean, congested, and basically rolled off -- for example, missing trailing "T"s in vocals. But honestly not that much different from my Studio Tracker bundler. I've read people say that MCs take a lot of break-in -- is that true? Or are cartridges really are a scam? Can I expect the AT to eventually open up, stop rolling off mid-range vocals, and actually pull out more detail and texture?
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tablejockey
743 posts
 
This thread hasn’t progressed/evolved from the 1st page...yawn.

It’s been reading material while eating dinner and listening to music with my over $200 SCAM cartridge, hooked up to my SCAM system exceeding $500.

Amps? Speakers?...lets guess what the next thread that madavido starts.

".....?" is a scam!

How about..Listening to music through a stereo is a SCAM!
SCAM! SCAM! SCAM! SCAM! Its just a good through my IPhone/laptop and Beats!

These type of threads accomplish nothing.

madavid0, just can’t resist a little ribbing. You’ve set it up

EDIT-the AT OC9II is a decent cart.But it will only be heard on a more capable table,phono amp. The fact you have to spend more money however, is a SCAM!
madavid0 OP
127 posts
 
Okay guys, I'm a little confused here...the instructions for the AT-OC9ML/II say that if I'm using a MM/MC head amp that 100-Ohms resistance should be set...my Musical Fidelity supports this. But it ALSO says the recommended load is 20-Ohms and to use 20-Ohms in a step-up transformer? So, wait a second...how is it that a head amp is fine for 100-Ohms but if using a SUT you should use 20-Ohms? Does that mean I really need a SUT or a preamp with a 20-Ohm input? What does 20 vs 100 Ohms sound like anyway? I seem to be getting enough gain, so I don't understand what this means?
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