Is there usually a dramatic difference between $5k and $10k cartridges ?

“Vinyl records produced/tested with “professional” grade carts, with focus on sound accuracy”.

It seems to me that would be a very limiting factor for me, acquiring a 1oK cartridge. I don’t want to just listen for the sake of listening. I’d rather listen for the music therein.

Well, some recording studios use $5 per mile cables to make recordings. This doesn't mean that your audiophile cables don't make them sound better than similar $5 per mile cables. They do. Better equipment makes everything sound better, regardless of the quality of the recordings. The degree will vary.

@inna 

dwette, what table/arm do you use with Lyra ?

Clearaudio Innovation and Clearaudio Universal 12", with Boulder 1108 phono-stage.

dwette, I see. Do you also have Boulder preamp and power amp ?

In general, ones entire collection sounds better with better sounding cartridges. As I moved from $100, to $1K, to $3K to $7K they also seemed to track in a different location and my 1960's and '70s albums nearly sounded new. I am assuming they track much deeper. I have only heard $12K cartridges and did not know the albums history, so can't comment on those.