Which material is best for a cartridge body?

Personally, I would be very carefull about making a decision based on the material used for the cartridge body. Sure, the material used affects the sound, everything does; but there are many more things to consider, especially in the $200-$400 range. Seems to me that beneficial use of exotic body material will probably be found in much more expensive cartridges.

The only low output MC that I would recommend, based on experience, is a used Benz Glider. Otherwise, I would stay away from inexpensive MC's altogethter; especially when you have the Shure VMR and Grados available. Since you are looking for a low output MC, I trust that you have a suitable high gain phono section in your pre; don't use it for a high output Grado, use the low gain setting or too much hum will result. Good luck and keep us posted.

Psychicanimal, there are as we "speak" at least two used Gliders for sale on this site for $400 or less. I know first hand, how precarious bying a used cartridge can be; however, it is possible to arrange for some sort of guarantee as you test drive it, or have it inspected; assuming you're dealing with a reasonable seller. A lot of hassle and potential problems, but if you land a good deal, as is usually the case, what you'll have IMO is a far superior cartridge. How about that Rosewood for $275? Now there's a potential deal! Worth at least an e-mail and definitely worth trying. On the other hand, the security of knowing that your cartridge is new is certainly worth a whole lot. By the way, I would not give up on trying to solve the hum problem with the Grado. Good luck.