Expensive MC's, are they worth it?

[Floyddroid]

Been listening t a myriad of cartridges lately and wondering to myself just much better expensive Moving Coil cartridges than some cheaper options or even Moving Magnets. Very much a topic worthy of debate methinks. Let's not forget that once the transition is made between MM to MC then better electronics to amplify the minuscule signal is needed as well as the leap in price of the device itself. Does it bare comparison to the views of cable sceptics?

[mainaman]

I think that as most things in high-end audio the law of diminishing returns kicks in after 1000 pounds or even less than that.Also the equipment must scale up as well.The really expensive carts,10 000+ pounds;they are for analogue setups that cost more than a new Porsche Cayman.I think the profit margins are outrageous,same as the top end cables,but obviously there is a market for that product.

[Firebottle]

It's a damn good question Steve, here is my thinking and current experience:

As with any setup, regardless of the source, if you have a bottleneck somewhere in the system then you are not getting the best performance that can be had from said source.
With the incremental improvements in my own design amplification throughout last year, I now think that the system is firing on all cylinders. Frankly it is now sounding stunning with any source, even FM radio. So I can enjoy whatever ultimate performance that is on offer from MM or MC cartridges.

I have recently bought a Denon DL-103, an inexpensive cart by MC standards, and am now in touch with the emotion of whatever I put on the TT.
I won't be looking for better/more expensive because this does it for me.

I'm sure a big dollop of synergy of the whole chain is coming into effect, YMMV.

[CageyH]

A really good MM cartridge is still worth having. I still enjoy my AT150MLX and EPC-U205.
Reasonable price MC cartridges like the AT33PTG/II still other something different. I have not tried an expensive MC cartridge as I do not see the need.

[Haselsh1]

A very loud 'NO' from moi...!
The reason...? The margins are immense on such things. It cannot be justified.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Yes expensive MC carts ARE worth it but only in the right setup. I've spent £300 on a Shure M55E MM cartridge+Snakewood body+ JICO neoSAS stylus setup and it's extremely enjoyable BUT my ortofon cadenza black just does stuff like no other cartridge I've heard.

[Scooby]

I'm very fond of the Denon 103 and its variants, also the AT33 and 0C9 series. I've not heard anything massively more expensive so it's hard to say how much bett they are. Personally there's a limit to how much I would spend on a cartridge and it doesn't go beyond the models above.

I haven't heard the Technics but I have no doubts it will be excellent. MMs generally have been disappointing for me. The Goldring 1000 series are very well regarded and they are probably better than other MMs I've tried. They have still fallen short of any MC I've owned though.

[struth]

I like mm,s tbh. They have a bit of grit to them. Mcs can be very nice but at a cost often. Also having to get the amplification right is another cost potentially....and hassle sometimes

[Ali Tait]

Yes expensive MC carts ARE worth it but only in the right setup. I've spent £300 on a Shure M55E MM cartridge+Snakewood body+ JICO neoSAS stylus setup and it's extremely enjoyable BUT my ortofon cadenza black just does stuff like no other cartridge I've heard.

This. Can say the same for my Benz Gullwing SLR.

[Audio Al]

I have found with MM carts the sound is coloured / muddy
With high end mc carts they become more clinical / clear / crisp / defined , If you want to hear the music MC for me every time