Belyin: the thing is, this mono Audio Technica cartridge provides so much for so little, at least from Amazon. It lists at around $300, but you can get it from Amazon for $112.65. A replacement stylus for a mono Grado ME+ is $90; you might as well buy three Audio Technicas and set yourself up for a decade of playing mono LPs.
The other cartridges you mention cost more in one way or another. The Denon is twice as much. It has OFC copper, but the AT has PCOCC copper, a big step up in the most strategic place. The Ortofon SPU Mono is no doubt a great mono cart, but at around 8-1/2 times the price it should be.
That's why I'm nuts about the Audio Technica. It is a great value, almost a gift--a cannily built high output moving coil with a forgiving conical stylus and an overall enticing musical presentation for little more than a Shure M97xE.
I'm sure there are better mono carts, but none that can get within sniffing distance of the AT at $112.65.
The other cartridges you mention cost more in one way or another. The Denon is twice as much. It has OFC copper, but the AT has PCOCC copper, a big step up in the most strategic place. The Ortofon SPU Mono is no doubt a great mono cart, but at around 8-1/2 times the price it should be.
That's why I'm nuts about the Audio Technica. It is a great value, almost a gift--a cannily built high output moving coil with a forgiving conical stylus and an overall enticing musical presentation for little more than a Shure M97xE.
I'm sure there are better mono carts, but none that can get within sniffing distance of the AT at $112.65.