Dear @theophile  : Thank's to share with us the latest Audio Technica top cartridges:

Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge | AT-MCD1 | Audio-Technica

Its price is 11K, 5K lower than the Vertex.

For year I love both cartridge designs and even owned almost all its top designs. As you today I can't afford the Vertex that for me looks more interesting, with out diminish the AT.

AT always has lower price than its competence but always is a challenge to any of its top competitors.

 

@mofimadness   , thank's too for share the Vertex.

In the other side and as what I said of AST/Ortofon is the same with Dynavector, my first Dynavector was the 23R and my last the XV-1S that even today is a excellent performer.

 

R.

the XV-1S that even today is a excellent performer

I agree with that. I've had one for years, and it was rebuilt at the factory a couple years ago. I still have it mounted on one of my 3 tonearms.

I think when we get around $5K with competent engineering,

ears and process and quality control vs marketing mysticism, pretty much any of them are excellent….

Cartridges are fascinating

Truth. I'm just lucky that I fell into three truly great ones without paying retail for them, and that I can play them all (one is mono).