See the thread about hype in high end audio.

Quote:
MF didn't say or did i miss it, did he use this cartridge in his $100K Tt masterpice, that would make the review usless, since mortals that would buy this over priced cartridge, wouldn't have it in this $100k TT would they, and if teh $100K Tt is that superior to others as he claims, how much of teh sound is cus' the TT nad not the cartridge, I think MF has again become confused, as least he confuses me. All his reviews now should be done on the $100K then a a mortal say $3K VPI or such, so maybe the caretridge differences show, not just the TT? But then what about teh wires connecting the thang to the pre amp. Analog is way to variable in real life, How can MF possibly pin down sound differences do to a cartridge if he uses this superior as he says TT? Since the Tt is so audibly superior to anything.

woah! I think you are confused about a few things but first the facts: The Allaerts was reviewed on the Graham Phantom using both my reference Hovland DIN to RCA cable and Crystal Cable Din/RCA. And yes, it was on the Continuum. And you are correct that I should have specified the associated gear. However, it is wrong to think that a review using the Continuum is worthless for owners of other 'tables. Let's say I owned an SME 30 or an Avid Acutus or a Basis Debut Gold, or any other really good turntable. Would the Allaerts review be useless for an owner of a VPI Scout? Or a Rega P5? No. I don't think so. I believe the Continuum's performance aids in revealing what the cartridge sounds like. I've run many cartridges on the Continuum and then on other 'tables being reviewed. With few exceptions, cartridges, being transducers, are far more colored than most turntables...

DUP, since you like car analogies maybe this will help:

I can tell much more comparing two set of high performance tires by putting them on my race car than I can by putting the same two sets of tires on an Audi. That is, the more precise, sensitive and more revealing the test platform the better.