Best $250 max phono Cart

I’d look at LP Gear instead and the Audio-Technica VM540ML @ $249. A fine match with the Rega arm and an altogether better cartridge than the 2M Blue in my subjective opinion.

They do, however, also sell the Blue for $210.

I have an AT VM750 at $400 and don't think it's all that great for rock. Look at the Nagaoka MP150 instead.

Thanks for the recommendations mattmiller agrippa noromance! I watched some cart shootouts on youtube from HiViNyws (Ian in Singapore), the Nagaoka MP-150 (~$300) sounds great, I agree with the few videos I watched that it outclassed at least the Hana EL but might be a little too $$. Funny story, I have a Well Tempered Labs TLC MM cartridge on my Amadeus, which is modeled after the Nagaoka MP-150.  Searching at the $100 level, I'm read that The Vessel A3SE ($99) is worth consideration. anyone have experience with the Vessel A3SE?  Whichever way he ends up going it will be fine, there are some really great choices available.

Like some other Audio-Technica moving magnet cartridges the VM540ML has a low recommended load capacitance range, in this case 100 to 200 pf. And the phono input of your amp has a higher than average input capacitance of 220 pf, while the phono cable, tonearm wiring, and connectors will probably add something like 150 pf or perhaps even 200 pf to that. So I would not recommend that cartridge for this application.

I suspect the total load capacitance would NOT be far enough above the 2M Blue’s recommended load capacitance range of 150 to 300 pf to be a significant issue. Not sure about the Nagaoka, for which I couldn’t find a load capacitance recommendation.

Good luck.  Regards,
-- Al

@mikld  looks like Nagaoka increased their prices by about 25% when I wasn't  looking.  The Nag 110 is still solid at $140.