Cartridge recommendation for classical listening

I don’t think i can use a moving coil, because the output level of my vintage Conrad-Johnson preamp is Low and designed for moving magnet.

Many people just missed the point that you phono stage is MM only.

When dealer can swap cartridge with no loss for the buyer it is nice. They got their margin anyway and you must be happy after all. Give it a try and get Virtuoso instead of HOMC Sumiko, at least Virtuoso is MM and your phono stage is MM only (47k Ohm).

If you have to choose between those two cartridges from your dealer then get Virtuoso and tell us about your experience with this MM after your experience with HOMC.

Must be interesting process. 

I probably shouldn’t be writing this, but as I’m listening to the Sumiko while waiting for the Clear Audio to arrive,  it sure sounds good on the best produced records.  It’s just that the ordinary discs, which make up the bulk of my some 3000 records, don't sounds so wonderful. 

I have a Nagaoka mp500 with an mp300 stylus and also a Goldring 2500.
Usually, the higher the output volts of the cartridge, the slightly better it is for noise,
since you do not have to turn up the volume as much and also amplify the noise.
Classical is "typically" quieter than rock /pop/jazz where this may be important.
I therefore prefer the Goldring 2500 for classical since it "sounds" quieter.
It has an average 6.5mV output as opposed to the 3.5mV on the Nagaoka. This gives about 3-4 dB of better noise figure.

I use these on a Linn Sondek with an SME3009R arm.

I must admit I love the "looks" just as much as the sound :-).

There are cartridges on the market with 9.5 mV output like Shure M44-7, unfortunately they are not the best MM in terms of sound quality, not better than MM with 1.5mV output.

High efficient speakers is the key to keep the volume control knob down even with passive preamps and low voltabe power amps.

I’m running 1.5 watt single ended triod tube amp with passive preamp, some of my cartridges are 0.2 mV and the volume control on my passive Pass Aleph L preamp is no more than 10-30%. Why? Because the speakers are 101db (and my room is not small).

It is system dependent. According to Nelson Pass we often have too much gain in our devises. 

such as, the beauty diminishing as I turned the volume up.

@rvpiano,  If the volume has something to do with it, that's not the cartridge.