New Cartridge or New Stylus

I use and have always liked the prior 440 model in my office, this is current stock

ATVM540ML, $280

Audio-Technica AT-VM745xML, $329, Boron Cantilever

I have gotten lucky buying one used 150 and 3 used AT160ML that have original beryllium cantilevers, microline stylus, track at 1.25g, (and there are 3 new VMNx stylus with boron cantilevers for options in the future)

I don’t know this seller, but it comes with a Magnesium Headshell that has concealed fastening from below, azimuth adjustment, overhand adjustment, and this one comes with the case.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/406308722518?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=619db6b4-b67e-11f0-a30f-613032366639

same seller, check other items, he has an AT160ML body $110. usd

https://www.ebay.com/itm/406295056468?itmmeta=01K8XMWNPTTFAQNQ9169YA0SF2&hash=item5e99129054:g:2cQAAeSwS3Jo8NZT

then buy a current production stylus, fresh suspension, aluminum or boron cantilever, perfect diamond

Since all AT-VMx and VM Series cartridges share the same body design and have a removable stylus, you can use almost any AT-VMNx or VMN replacement stylus* with any VMx or VM cartridge for easy experimentation with sound characteristics.

AT-VMN10xCB (conical/bonded/aluminum cantilever)
AT-VMN20xEB (elliptical/bonded/aluminum cantilever)
AT-VMN30xEN (elliptical/nude/aluminum cantilever)
AT-VMN40xML (microlinear/nude/aluminum cantilever)
AT-VMN45xML (microlinear/nude/boron cantilever)
AT-VMN50xSH (Shibata/nude/boron cantilever)
AT-VMN60xSL (special line contact/nude/boron cantilever)

Here’s a used AT150e for $179. from a seller I recommend

I have an AT150e with an AT160ML Microline on Tapered Beryllium Stylus on it.

My friends and I cannot hear any difference between it and my AT160ML body with the same AT160ML stylus on it.

I bought both from this seller whom I recommend

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267300981202?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=acf16a76-b682-11f0-a3dd-346264666334

so, for -100 (and less tarriffs and less tax) you start with Elliptical, and can change to a different stylus profile later, either take a chance on a used beryllium ML or go for a new VMNx stylus on Boron.

btw, your fixed arm, you need to both mount/align/calibrate each time, so a body that accepts good better best stylus makes sense.

how are your cartridge mounting skills?

I think I would go for the used AT160ML with headshell and case, it is a terrific headshell, but only good for fastening from below, i.e. I could not mount my friend’s Benz Micro Ruby Wood, it’s threaded holes do not go all the way thru.

With careful screw choice, it looks like AT's new threaded bodies can be mounted from above or below

proper link for the at745xML on Boron for $329. shown above

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/at-vm745xml

the new ones track at 2.0g; the vintage ones I like track at 1.25g

There is nothing wrong with a cartridge that tracks at 2.0 g.  One that tracks at 1.25 g is not really better.  The key word is track.  The stylus must stay in the groove, i.e. track without rattling around in there.  It is mis-tracking that is the problem.  Seriously, 2.0 g does not wear out records.