best mm/mc preamp under $200 and best mc cartridge under $500 for an SME 3009 S2 arm ?


I guess the title says it all.  The arm is on a Linn Sondek LP12.

- Has anyone had any ACTUAL experience with a moving coil cartridge on an SME S2 arm, which is very light and hence needs a hi compliance cartridge ?  $500 is the max I want to spend.  Bass slam & needing extra treble to the point of being too bright  is the most important factor to me.  At my age, my ears are not what they used to be :-)

- Also, can anyone suggest an under $200 mc/mm simple preamp ?

Thanks

128x128cakyol
You must be kidding? 
$200 for mm/mc preamp??? 

It's not enough even for simple MC step up stansformer if the sound quality is what you're looking for. 

I think even for used MM/MC phono stage $400-500 is minimum.

But $500 is fine for a great cartridge, but it must me MM or MI if you want better for less money. If yoy need high compliance look for Grace F9, Stanton 881, Pickering 3000, ADC TRX just to name a few. 

There are many recommendations in the different threads, people ask same questions. 




Best phono preamp that I have ever heard and at any price (for both MM and MC) is the Micromega MyGroov. It regularly sells on eBay for under $200. I also have a Parasound JC3+ that I enjoy. Micromega is pure magic. 

Just to show how serious I am about vinyl... In the past two years I've also owned phono preamps from Ayre, Bryston, Pass Labs, Simaudio, Jolida, MOFI, McIntosh, Rotel, Rega, Goldmund, and Arcam.

I use the Micromega with an SME Model 10A turntable.