Table/Cartridge price ratio

I think in most cases its more that the person buying a less expensive turntable is mostly due to shallow pockets and will also have the same issues buying a cartridge..I realize there are other factors for some,but many trade up to a more expensive table before buying a more expensive cartridge..It just makes more sense,not that you won't get better sound with a better cartridge.

>>I think good cartridges these days start in the $250 range or so for MCs, less for MMs<<

In this price range moving magnets almost always sound better than moving coils.

YMMV

The MCs I'm thinking of starting in the $250 price range are the Denons (hard to find) and Sumiko Blue Point line. MAybe Grados but never heard their MCs.

Other than these, yes, audiofeil, you are correct, you will probably have to spend more for a good MC to match a good system. I've tried various MMs I've accumulated over the years in the Linn Axis on my main system and either MC was to superior to any MM, though granted these were older MM cartridges that had seen prior use (grado, ortofo, Shure type IV, etc).

I have an older MM Goldring in my second, smaller system (Dual 1264), and that system is sounding the best ever now since I inserted a vintage Yamaha receiver that seems to have a very good phono stage. IT was not very spectacular with prior receivers tried, vintage NAD 7020 and Tandberg 2080. This revelation convinced me more than ever that all phono stages, even in higher end brands, are not created equal, so I think that has to be taken into consideration as well when matching tt and cartridge.

Haven't tried the Goldring on my Linn yet though.

Price is no indicator of good sound.

You probably have not heard the Grado MCs because no one has; they don't make them. All Grado cartridges are moving iron. Interestingly, Joe Grado had the patent on MCs in the US, but never enforced it.

As for the rest of it. It is hogwash, the cartridge is a transducer, it converts mechanical energy, into electrical energy, the loudspeaker is the only other component in the hi-fi system that does that, unless one wants to go back to the recording chain and throw in the microphone. Depending on the system, very expensive cartridges can be used to good effect on very cheap turntables, though the other way around usually yeilds more satisfying results.