When we lived in Cheshire in the early 2000's we'd go to an annual record sale in Buxton. It was usually well stocked and interesting. Plus Buxton is just such a lovely place.
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Where are the Chinese phono cartridges? I'm tired of snake oil and ridiculous pricing
- Thread starter Krillin
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When we lived in Cheshire in the early 2000's we'd go to an annual record sale in Buxton. It was usually well stocked and interesting. Plus Buxton is just such a lovely place.
Check out the Stereophile article about a company in China, DYLP Audio. Hand made and fairly expensive but not into the vinyl thing so can't remark on their value. Mikey loves them tho... They sent him 3 carts, A $1200, a $350 and a $325 cart but these are purportedly at the bottom of their price range. One of their carts sells for $2899. In the April issue.
WDeranged
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Love Buxton. I live over in Leek so it's right next door.
Zensō
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DVDdoug
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Most cartridges are made (and distributed) in VERY small quantities and that adds to the production, marketing, and distribution cost. Plus, when you sell things in small quantities you need a bigger profit margin to stay in business. And yes, the higher the price the more desirable it is to "audiophiles".
Back when I was playing records I felt the "sweet spot" was Shure's best, which was around $100 USD or maybe a little more. I still have it and that's what I use when I occasionally digitize vinyl. If I was buying a cartridge today I'd look for something similar. It just doesn't make sense to "go crazy" when the record itself is the weak point.
The main difference in "sound" is frequency response and in the old days records varied a LOT. I assume records are better now, but if you can find two different test-records, I'm pretty sure the same cartridge would measure differently on different test-records. And, you can tweak frequency response with EQ anyway...
If I plug $100 in 1980 into an online inflation calculator I get $349. Wow! That seems like a lot!
Back when I was playing records I felt the "sweet spot" was Shure's best, which was around $100 USD or maybe a little more. I still have it and that's what I use when I occasionally digitize vinyl. If I was buying a cartridge today I'd look for something similar. It just doesn't make sense to "go crazy" when the record itself is the weak point.
The main difference in "sound" is frequency response and in the old days records varied a LOT. I assume records are better now, but if you can find two different test-records, I'm pretty sure the same cartridge would measure differently on different test-records. And, you can tweak frequency response with EQ anyway...
If I plug $100 in 1980 into an online inflation calculator I get $349. Wow! That seems like a lot!
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DSJR
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The 540 has a posher body internal and supposedly posher wiring too. It *should* be better than the 95ML especially in terms of separation. The German Lowbeats site has full measurements (too lazy to look it up but easily Googled and read if you have a translator in your browser).
Godataloss
Senior Member
Why on earth would you have to replace a stylus that often? The better profiles last years and years if you properly clean and store your records.
A namiki line contact stylus on boron canti, no other parts is c$300 in single quantities. Figure oems are paying 1/2 of that in modest volumes, midtown high double digits and no one I'd getting rich quick in the sub 2000 buck cart market, the volumes are tiny, the cost of stock high.
Can you explain the reason for this. These are (AT440/VM540 and so on) relatively cheap cartridges, should they really require special measures to get them sounding correct?
A lot of people run them as is and say they have extra "detail", when in reality it is a tilted FR
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It matches age related loss of sensitivityA lot of people run them as is and say they have extra "detail", when in reality it is a tilted FR
I have listened to AT-VM95ML and AT-VM95E on the same record player and couldn't make out a difference, to be honest. Maybe the AT-VM95ML was less prone to dust/pops. Maybe. For that alone i recommend the AT-VM95ML. If i had only new records i would just use the cheap AT-VM95E and be done with it. They both measure very good.
Much of the differences in cartridges seem so minute, they might as well just be in my head. I'm sure it's the same with you guys.
20 to 30 hours a week of use. Records all properly cleaned on Moth MK2. Styli don't last anything like 2000 hours regardless of type.
people who only play records one or two hours a week might get that impression I suppose. But it's wrong.
Look at what Nagaoka themselves say. They are possibly the only manufacturer that is honest about stylus life. A worn tip will start damaging records long before you hear that it is on its way out.
The differences can be slight on the easy to track albums but are large when you compare end of side tracking on more challenging ones. The VM95ML will play tracks like Armistice Day (Paul Simon) and Save Me (Joan Armatrading) without distortion. I tried the more expensive SH, (Shibata) and that isn't as good.It matches age related loss of sensitivity
I have listened to AT-VM95ML and AT-VM95E on the same record player and couldn't make out a difference, to be honest. Maybe the AT-VM95ML was less prone to dust/pops. Maybe. For that alone i recommend the AT-VM95ML. If i had only new records i would just use the cheap AT-VM95E and be done with it. They both measure very good.
Much of the differences in cartridges seem so minute, they might as well just be in my head. I'm sure it's the same with you guys.
As Tina Turner asked, Whats cost have to do with it?" errr i think that is how the song goes.
There is no one that stays in business that prices their product based upon cost so why bring it up? (except for those companies doing business with the goverment and are forced to do so).
This question is brought up in almost every thread and shows that objectivists understand nothing about marketing and capitalizm
There is no one that stays in business that prices their product based upon cost so why bring it up? (except for those companies doing business with the goverment and are forced to do so).
This question is brought up in almost every thread and shows that objectivists understand nothing about marketing and capitalizm
Every business I ever worked for did or they would have gone bust through lack of customers.
But then I never worked for a business that sold Veblen goods which at least some pickup cartridges certainly are.
So, you go to a restaurant and tell them their salad is overpriced, since it has about 15 cents worth of lettuce and dressing?
I certainly don't sell based on my cost in my business...I charge based on value offered. I'm not about to go bust.
We're talking SPECIFICALLY about AT microline styli. In my experience, they last a very long time and if you don't manage to break the diamond off the cantilever and the cantilever suspension doesn't collapse, you'll get this type of lifespan. And no, I'm not living in a dream.
no but I'm aware that the restaurant has overheads so needs to charge ten to twenty times the cost of ingredients.
You could also argue that expensive restaurants are selling Veblen goods. High prices keep the riff-raff out.
Most businesses compete primarily on price. Why would I buy from you if I can get the exact same goods or services for ten percent less elsewhere?
Obviously I'm over-simplifying as there are other factors, for example I might like you so be willing to pay you the extra ten percent, but essentially the cost of supplying will set a minimum as to what you can charge and still make money. The price your competitors charge will set a maximum as to what you can charge and still attract custom.
My job as a businessman is to show that there is value built into my higher price. If you are selling piles of rocks, or commodities/commodity services, there isn't much room to add value. In many businesses the real money comes from breaking out of that model and selling on value added, not lowest cost.
In my business almost everyone is cheaper than I am, yet we are only limited by how fast I can hire and train people.
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