lbrande

Frustrating thing happened yesterday. I went to my turntable to play Tchaikovsky and I noticed that the needle to my favorite cartridge was missing. Generally, no problem as I always had available replacements. I then attempted to replace with my second available cartridge, and it too was missing a needle. I finally had to use an older Stanton 881S that was in storage.
I went on line to locate and purchase a replacement needle, and the darn part is mostly unavailable. I did find a factory replacement in Japan through eBay which I had ordered. I also found a company on the East Coast that makes new replacements.
Here's the rub. I paid about $750 back in 1986 when I purchased the cartridge. The replacement is $500 today! I located a newer cartridge, that has performance characteristics similar to the model I own, and the darn thing costs $1,000.
What I did find was that the cartridge, is a very sought after model. What I also found is that the newer cartridges, although better, are much pricier than what I had expected, exceeding $2,000 for the better models.
Sort of like cameras. I guess that's the problem with maintaining older hobbies.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

And I thought $300 was an expensive cartridge
.

bwilliams

Look at Grado cartridges used to be very good quality at good prices. Also, a website called audogone has used equipment.

lbrande

Sort of like adding a Ferrari V12 into a Chevy Monza. My turntable isn't quite that good to require these types.

lbrande

Two of my Grado cartridges also require replacements as they are not user replaceable needles.

I recently purchased a "New" Lexicon ZX-7 from an ad in Audiogon. The seller gave me a price of 60% off the listed retail price. I've used Audiogon religiously literally forever. They usually have a great selection of CD's, SACD's, and records. The did inform me that my SACD of "Thriller" is worth more than I expected.

Their selection of cartridges is generally on the higher end of Audiophile the cost point starting at $4,000 and up. They did have a generally less pricy selection between $2,000 and up.

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

With cartridges that pricey you don't replace a needle...you replace a stylus.

lbrande

The Grado cartridges are not replaceable. The Grace Ruby is, and it still costs $500 for the new replacement.
The needle is in a replaceable housing that is mounted in the cartridge. I just called it a needle, but you are correct in the terminology.

Bayou

How on Earth have you damaged so many styli?

DIRTY HARRY Loc: Hartland, Michigan

If you played cRAP "music", you wouldn't need such a good needle.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I have tinus so I doubt that I could tell the difference between a ten dollar cartridge and a two thousand dollar cartridge.

lbrande

Since it's not my primary music source, I don't know what happened. Probably due to age. All the Grados are over 40 yrs old, and the Grace is about 30

lbrande

I prefer Classical, Jazz, Big Band, Country, and Rock.

FredCM Loc: Central Illinois

Hmm. I enjoyed my Shure Type III Improved, high hat cymbals were noticeably more crisp sounding. I have to wonder about $1000-$4000 cartridges. All the better to hear surface noise? And the chain is as strong as the weakest link, which might be the loudspeakers and/or their placement.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

If you think that's bad, try finding a reasonably priced reel-to-reel tape deck! Analog audio is great, but the equipment marketing has become a scam.

lbrande

I have a Philips N4504 that need new rubber inside, and I have a AKAI GX635dB, so I'm pretty well set up in the Analog department.
Who sells new reel-to-reel?
Try pricing new turntables. Technics starts at about $1,100, and there are some in the $19,500 range. Cartridges can go for over $10,000 each.