Still looking for a new Moving Coil Cartridge

I'm very satisfied with my Umami Red.

I’ve owned a couple of Dynavectors in the distant past and have recently spent time with the 10X5 II. They IMO are nice but not special, if that makes sense.

Like the OP, I’ve got a Technics G that I dearly love. Mine is set up with a Funk Firm 5mm Achromat, the KAB arm damper and A/T Headshell wires on the factory headshell. Setup with a Vinyl Source Arc Protractor and a first generation Fozgometer. All records are ultrasonically cleaned.

Im currently running a low output Grado Reference3 wood body and couldn’t be happier. At $1500, it’s out of the OP’s comfort zone. Before I spent $1200 for another Dynavector, I’d seriously look at a Grado Master3 which comes in at $1K.

The Grado Timbre series comes in both high and low output- either 4.7 mV or 1 mV. Both load at 47k, but not every phono stage can run 50-55 dB gain at 47k loading. If yours can, the low output is the ticket. If not, you want high output.

The Grados can also be replaced or upgraded at roughly 33% off when worn or damaged which is pretty strong compared to the competition (except Soundsmith).

MI cartridges have lower moving mass than either MM or MC.

I listen to about 70% classic rock, 25% classical and 5% jazz and the Grado excels with all of them.

Tonight’s spins so far:

The Beatles- Abbey Road MoFi

Jethro Tull- Songs From The Wood 40th Anniversary 

On deck next:

David Bowie- Ziggy Stardust

@stereo5 

I am an MC fan as well. I would not recommend the grado offerings, except that you can replace the stylus. However, I have experience with replacing the arm/stylus of a Benz micro mc (two of them) thru a vendor in New York. He does a great job. $300-400. Yes, the sound is slightly different, but excellent nonetheless. Feel free to email me to get the info.

Your Dynavector is better than the recommended grado, particularly with a new rebuild. Have you tried the Dynavector 10x5, mc high output? It's very good with rock. In your price range.

Finally, 2juki (Hong Kong) on eBay offers great deals on cartridges and accepts returns if the cartridge arrives damaged. He's been dealing in high end cartridges for 20 years, at least. Very credible. I have bought two cartridges (10x5 & Audio Technica ART9). FWIW, the ART9 is excellent but the same price a the dv20x

Goodluck

MP-500 

My Hana SH has blown me away more than once on many of my older rock albums.  I have maybe 100 hrs on it now and I think it took about 10-20 albums to come into its fullest potential.  

Tonearm and set up are a big factor. I used a high end stylus gauge to set it at 2g and then went though a couple of test records to get some anti skate and other adjustments corrected.  If someone does not have proper tools then I think best to have it done by a pro.

I do find the Hana SH amazing! Very solid imaging with fine detail, no perceptible coloration and not favoring or flavoring any particular type of music.  Of course bad recordings sound... bad.

For me this opens the imaginary door to wondering how much better something like the Umami Red is...  I'm tempted!