Cartridge replacment time

IMO, it’s impossible to beat the Shure M97xe and Jico SAS combo for a MM in that price range. It's not an ideal compliance match for your arm, but if the Grado worked, so the Shure surely will (pun intended).

@helomech 

it’s impossible to beat the Shure M97xe and Jico SAS combo for a MM in that price range.

It's pretty easy to beat that cartridge even if your replacement Jico SAS. The SAS is Micro Ridge, the cnatilever is Boron for an old SAS and Ruby or Sapphire for a Neo SAS. 

There are many more original MM cartridges utilized same kind of cantilevers and diamonds like Fine Line, Stereohedron, Micro Line, Shibata, Line Contact, Parabolic etc 

One of them is Glanz MFG-610LX is on ebay from the Japanese seller who's got a NOS stock of them. They are about $420 with FREE shipping worldwide. It's a Moving Flux cartridge made by Mitachi Corporation in Japan. Everyone should grab them before it's too late! They are brand new (unused). Look at the diamond and cantilever here

I have been using a AT-OC 9 with a AT arm on a Thorens TD 521 and I have never had any thoughts on changing either. My amp. is a Arcam Delta 90 , Nakamichi Deagon , Revox B77 Mark 2 with Bose 301 speakers. Keeps me happy in a 5 x 5 mtr lounge. 91 year old.

Good for you Englebert! Happy listening and welcome to Audiogon!

Hi Englebert -welcome - Bose 301s - thats interesting - I had 901s for many years and have a Revox B77 too (now on my loft).
If you find a Lyra cart to a reasonable price, you would probably like it - and not look back. I started with the Lyra Clavis in 1997. On my Thorens, with a SME 3009 arm. I liked it so I went further up in the Lyra line.