Which Cartrudge For My Upcoming Technics 1200 GR 2 Turnable - Looking at Ortofon 2m Black

@dman777 Late to the discussion now that you've decided but will be interested to know if you achieved your goal of "energetic sound with power" but not too highly resolving with that cart.  I just have a feeling it may be a bit more resolving than you want but the beauty is that with the removable headshell on the Technics you can buy 2 or 3 carts that have been recommended here and see which one you like best.  i agree with @elliottbnewcombjr that i've never met an AT cart i didn't like but i made the switch to fixed coil Soundsmith carts about 10 years ago and never looked back.  Just smooth without harshness--Surprised no one here recommended one of those to you as they are high output but share many of the qualities of LOMC carts and, i think, would fit the bill for what you're looking for. In the price range of your Ortofon is the Carmen II and many options going up the ladder--Another nice thing is that Soundsmith will retip for a pittance.  So if you haven't achieved what you wanted, and want to experiment with a couple different carts, try one of Peter Ledermann's fixed coils and see what you think.  

Everybody has their favorite cartridge of course and every cartridge mentioned here has merit.  I want to offer a word of caution, however.  Be careful that in your enthusiasm for your individual favorite you do not make statements that have no basis.  It is important to provide encouragement that reinforces the good decisions that have been made by each of us.  With that said let me next explain that I am fortunate to own and enjoy a large number of cartridges.  For turntables in regular use:  VPI HW-40, HW-19 Mk III, Mitsubishi LT-22 (new to me), and Technics SL1200 GAE, with the latter being used the most for cartridge evaluation because of the interchangeable head shell feature.  A favorite cartridge for many years has been an Ortofon 2M Black, recently up graded to LVB, an 2M Mono SE, a Cadenza Black, and a Windfeld; a SoundSmith Hyperion, most often affixed to the HW-40; Audio Technica AT ART 20, AT 33PTG/II, ATVMN60xSL.  These are just a few among many.  So what I am about to say is based on personal, recent listening experience.  Every one of these cartridges is excellent.  They are all equally dynamic.  They all have quite excellent detail retrieval.  I assert that the prejudices expressed in some of the posts in this thread are not supportable.  A cartridge is part, but only one part of your system.  Consider that every detail matters.  Please don't make statements that reflect fantasy and prejudice.  It is perfectly legitimate to have an opinion.  Just say that in your opinion thus and so, rather than state something as fact that just is not so.  As an example, MC cartridges are not more dynamic than MM cartridges.  Moreover, they do not have measurably lower levels of distortion by design.  They have to be evaluated on a case by case basis with no two examples of even otherwise identical cartridges measuring the same.  How do I know that?  Because I have measured using AnalogMagik. 

I don't have the LVB but, I do have the black. I really like it. I play a lot of jazz and it really makes horns sound good. I think for the money it's a great cartridge. Ortofon is a great brand. I'm using an Ifi phono3 BL preamp as well. It's hard now to tell you exactly where one starts and the other finishes.

I think both contribute a fairly bright sound. I like the seperation I think the Black gives to my recordings. All in all Ortofon black is a great way to go.

As a follow up... I got the turntable set up for the first time this evening. It is playing on my Luxman 595 and Focal Soprna n1s and REL 830 sub. 

I am finding it way to bright and very loud. I do enjoy it’s engery though... but it’s def. got to much loudness. 

1) Could the loudness damage my speakers after prolonged listening? Like I can hear some kind of distortion in the background but I can’t tell if that is just because it is vinyl since I have been using digital for so long. Also, some hissing from the highs when the signer sings. 

2) Would the Hana ML be a better cartridge? Or would it be to much the other way as in to low in loudness and lack energy?

3) Would the Nagaoka MP-500 Cartridge be the best middle of the road cart?