Franky, the cart is just way overmatched by the rest of the system. You're dealer either gave you bad advice or misjudged your finickyness if they suggested a less than $200 budget for a cart on an over $3000 system.
Audiophiles like to exaggerate the differences between digital components, but the differences are subtle compared to analog components. Differences between analog components are rarely subtle. You have not heard enough to judge the medium.
You do not have to spend thousands or even $500 for a better cart, but you can't expect a "starter" cart to make you happy. I went through about 4 carts, all highly regarded, before I found one that I was really happy with (an under $400 cart).
I would try to get the dealer to loan you a different cart (I would suggest a Dynavector or Benz low output MC). It's not common for dealers to loan carts, but if you make clear how unhappy you are, they might extend you the courtesy, or at least give you some trade-in value on the Denon. There's no point in spending this kind of money and then stopping a few hundred bucks short of acceptable sound.
Audiophiles like to exaggerate the differences between digital components, but the differences are subtle compared to analog components. Differences between analog components are rarely subtle. You have not heard enough to judge the medium.
You do not have to spend thousands or even $500 for a better cart, but you can't expect a "starter" cart to make you happy. I went through about 4 carts, all highly regarded, before I found one that I was really happy with (an under $400 cart).
I would try to get the dealer to loan you a different cart (I would suggest a Dynavector or Benz low output MC). It's not common for dealers to loan carts, but if you make clear how unhappy you are, they might extend you the courtesy, or at least give you some trade-in value on the Denon. There's no point in spending this kind of money and then stopping a few hundred bucks short of acceptable sound.