Sorry can you clarify - you DO want a cartridge with a little bit of bright/zing up top, i.e. one that's not too mellow?
The AG offerings today look pretty sparse, honestly. Used to be a lot more selection; at least that's how I remembered it. Somebody seems to be dumping stock of Benz, and I've had Benzes I liked (Glider and Wood series), but the company's had issues with supply for years and seems to be finally closing up shop (maybe?) - so I'm not sure it's a smart buy anymore (production issues tend to go hand-in-hand with quality control). Benzes have a reputation for warmth, but I did find them to have a little bit of nice zip on top.
I'm shocked there's currently no Ortofon MC's listed in your range. Those (older Kontrapunkt series, current Cadenza range) can be a great option for folks who aren't afraid of a good dose of MC treble energy, without going overboard on it.
Look at Dynavectors - though I haven't owned one they have a stellar reputation over the years, and there are lots out there. I love my Shelters but haven't tried their lower/middle lines, and they don't seem to common on Audiogon anymore. And I'm sure somebody will pitch in for the Audio Technica MC's in that price range.
Does your Denon supply your phono stage? Especially with lower-output MC cartridges, phono stage quality will likely be a significant bottleneck until you get a solid outboard unit. Phono stage quality is absolutely a key component to your enjoyment; don't underestimate it!
The AG offerings today look pretty sparse, honestly. Used to be a lot more selection; at least that's how I remembered it. Somebody seems to be dumping stock of Benz, and I've had Benzes I liked (Glider and Wood series), but the company's had issues with supply for years and seems to be finally closing up shop (maybe?) - so I'm not sure it's a smart buy anymore (production issues tend to go hand-in-hand with quality control). Benzes have a reputation for warmth, but I did find them to have a little bit of nice zip on top.
I'm shocked there's currently no Ortofon MC's listed in your range. Those (older Kontrapunkt series, current Cadenza range) can be a great option for folks who aren't afraid of a good dose of MC treble energy, without going overboard on it.
Look at Dynavectors - though I haven't owned one they have a stellar reputation over the years, and there are lots out there. I love my Shelters but haven't tried their lower/middle lines, and they don't seem to common on Audiogon anymore. And I'm sure somebody will pitch in for the Audio Technica MC's in that price range.
Does your Denon supply your phono stage? Especially with lower-output MC cartridges, phono stage quality will likely be a significant bottleneck until you get a solid outboard unit. Phono stage quality is absolutely a key component to your enjoyment; don't underestimate it!