Cartridge Suggestions for a Newbie

for 50 bucks a grado black....

100 > 200 denon dl160

200 > 300 denon dl103, denon dl103r, shure v15mxv

300 > 600 dynavector 10x5, dynavector dv20xh and dv20xl

there are so many..more info needed

The 200-300 Denon's are a good deal. I'm not as sure about the Shure. If you're going a little higher check out the Shelter 501, or for a little less the 301. There's some good recommendations there.

Depending on your budget I would suggest there are better tables out there than an old fashioned three point suspended and very polite belt drive from the UK. The fully upgraded Linn LP12 is nice but way overpriced IMHO.

That Bluenote table/arm at 650/BO is a great entry level table and pretty nice looking, too.

Brand new Scheu Cello belt drive table with rb250 landed for less than a grand; same bearing as the much more expensive Premier II.

The Ariston with the Shelter cartridge and SME arm at 400 is not too shabby, either.

Shure V15mxv is a great cartridge especially if you have a relatively low mass arm.

I have a Shure V15mxr on my LP12. I don't have the want to screw around baby-sitting MC carts and the Shure sounds very listenable. Even if I upgraded the arm , I'd likely keep the Shure. The onlt issue I have with Shure is the brush, with adds static, so I keep it up and out of the way and set the weight to 1.25. Works fine. Have fun.

I went from a Shure V15Vmr to a Benz Micro Glider on my LP12/Lingo/RB300. I liked the Glider's improved top end but I missed the bass. Next was a Cardas Heart Reference, which is a better Benz, built to Cardas specs. Bass was back!

Now I have a Koetsu Rosewood Signature and I really have to upgrade my tone arm. Well, it will be worth it.

The Dynavector 10x5 and 17D2 are also very nice-sounding cartridges in their respective classes.

Of course a phono stage now has to be figured into the equation. Since you're into Naim, you're in luck. The Stageline has had very good things said about its sound (in the late lamented Listener, I recall) and it doesn't cost a whole lot to try. The guys at Listener found a hummy one, though, so you might watch out for that.