Need help with MM cartridge choice


I've stumbled across a good deal on a Rega Planar 3 fitted with a Grace G-747 that looks to be an excellent choice for my second / MM table.  It has an old ADC on it that almost certainly needs a new stylus and I was never very fond of the ADC sound to begin with.  I've had good luck with B&O, Ortofon, Grace, Empire and Shure, but everything except Ortofon is ancient history now.

This table would be used for vinyl that can't really benefit from being spun on the Sota.  Think fair-to-good condition second-hand albums cleaned ultrasonically with minor visible scuffs that have seen a lot of play.  I prefer a neutral tone balance with flat frequency response.  Specs in the tonearm manual are pretty thin; 4 to 10 gram standard cartridge weight and nothing more.

Presuming the table & arm meet the mechanical, operating and geometry inspections when I go back tomorrow, I'd like some suggestions on an appropriate modern-era cartridge match.  I'd like to keep the investment ~$300 and definitely want something for which replacement styli are still made.  For those of you who haven't seen my posts before or checked my system page, I run a McIntosh C50 with a MC302 amp into Rogers Studio 1 speakers.  My primary table is a Sota Sapphire with a Graham Phantom Supreme and a DV XX2 MkII.

Thanks for your consideration and I look forward to your replies!

effischer
agree with @noromance , at that price point the AT VM540 is pretty tough to beat. Very musical sounding cart. 
I too love my AT VM540 ML. It’s all about the stylus. No other micro lines are available at that price point.  It IS more musical than a recently acquired Vessel A3SV. There really is no other choice except to punch up to the 740, not necessary for a second spinner.
I vote for a replaceable advanced stylus profile and the work to properly clean old LP's. My batch of 10 manual cleaning makes a BIG difference.

I also think the AT540ML is a great choice, you may even prefer it for specific LP's in your favorite pile as well as the worn ones.

I use a MM for LP's that are 'not too special' sonically, ones I like and keep, (even fresh copies) or perhaps a farewell listen then sell. My old Shure V15VxMR body with new Jico SAS stylus has a brush for slight warps and dust pickup, an advantage for the rare warped keeper.

Primarily to reduce unnecessary wear on my more costly and non-replaceable MC stylus.

I found, the MM has to sound good enough that you like it's sound a lot, or you won't use it, thus you keep wearing the MC stylus. IOW, if tempted go up not down.


Removable Headshell/Mono Cartridge

That arm has a specific headshell, can you get spare headshells for it?

Do you have Mono LP's? Already have a true Mono Cartridge?

IOW, if you get that table/arm combo because it is a great 'deal', it's single headshell may prove to be limiting