Advice on first MC cartridge

Thanks for the great responses everyone. Thanks for that link Bob. I am intrigued by the Lyra carts. Dan_ed, my friend Tony also recommended the Dyna 20x2. Would I not notice a difference if I went up to something like the xx-2?
Anyone else?

I prefer the Lyra (Delos, Argo) to the Dynavector XX-2. Compared to the
Lyras the Dyna is slightly veiled and dos not come close to the life,
dynamics, and resolution of the Lyras. Not that impressed with the Dyna
20-x at all either.

The AT33EV has already been recommended, and you might try the AT33PTG/II (a linear contact stylus as opposed to the EV's nude elliptical). The PTG has a much smoother treble that the 150, but tracking is similarly excellent. The caveat is that the compliance of these carts is not quite optimal for medium mass arms like the Rega so you have to be careful about isolation from footfalls.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT33PTG-Dual-Moving-Cartrige/dp/B00475S0BU

If you really want to spend in the $1-2K range, I'd try to hear a Benz for a very different, less neutral sound than the ATs, with more vibrancy in the midrange.

Stanwal - “AT 33EV, I had both it and the Denon and sold the DL-S1.”

Interesting! What did you like better about the AT 33EV over the Denon?

Bob

I sell the Audio Technica AT-33EV and the Denon DS-S1 walks all over it.

No contest.