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Recommend a cartridge for my new TT

I'm finally getting back into vinyl, and I need some recommendations for the best $500 or less cartridge (new or used) to get for a Clearaudio Performance SE TT I'm buying. The table has the Satisfy Carbon Fiber arm. For now, I'll be running the table thru the phono stage (MM)on my Denon AVR-3300 until I see how things sound that way, but maybe get a separate phono stage later if it would make a noticable improvement. Speakers are Monitor Audio Silvers. I tend to listen to older music, all on CD, like Donald Fagen, Boz Scaggs, Tina Turner, Garth Brooks, War, del Amitri, Patsy Cline, Robert Palmer...., well you probably get the idea where my tastes are, though some classical is appealing also.

Any suggestions as to what would work well with this setup?
duvallite
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,936 posts
 
Audio Technica AT150MLX
Dynavector 10X5
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rauliruegas
12,814 posts
 
Dear Duvallite: You can get from Clearaudio cartridge line as the Virtuoso Wood or the Maestro and you can buy second hand for near your budget. Other option is the Ortofon 2MBlack.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
This arm sounds so good with Ortofons I suspect it was develpoed with them in mind.
duvallite OP
34 posts
 
Thanks for the responses. By coincidence, while I was waiting for some suggestions here, I was looking into the Virtuoso Wood, 2M Black, and the Dynavector 10x5. The Maestro may be too much money unless a good deal comes along. I was also was looking at a Nagaoka MP-50, and now I'll also check on the Audio Technica AT150MLX.

If I decide to buy a used cartrodge, what should I look out for before I actually buy, to be sure the cartridge is okay? Also, how many hours on the cartridge would be acceptable?
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