Best $250 max phono Cart

Btw I run my MP150 at 0pf on my Chinook so just whatever the cabling adds.
Just to my ears it sounded ever so slightly more fleshed out than at 50pf.
Obviously YMMV.

And yes Al, trying to find that information for the MP150 is impossible as they do not provide it.
The older mp10 to 50 was listed at 100pf but they do not publish any figures for the MP x00 series carts.

Why not look for a gently used Denon 103. I've had great luck picking up low hr cartridges at about half the price of new.

Any Grado should be fine!
https://www.lpgear.com/category/GRADO.html

To my surprise those Nagaoka are all low compliance, why ?

Dynamic compliance for all models in MP series is:
from 5.5cu to 8.5cu @ 100Hz

I will convert it to 10Hz and this is it:
from 9.4 to 14.5cu, depends on the model

This is pretty low compliance for MM cartridge!

Also anyone should know that cheap models like Nagaoka PM-100 and PM-110 comes with BONDED diamonds, those diamonds are not "nude" like on higher models. I really don’t understand what is special about those entry level cartridges with Low Compliance, Bonded Diamond and Aluminum cantilevers ?

The life span of such bonded spherical or elliptical diamonds is very short, just look at description from Nagaoka (manufacturer):

" The stylus replacement interval varies depending on the using conditions. But for general use at home, the reference time is between 150-200 hours in which the stylus begin to wear and the tone quality deteriorates. Recommend replacing the stylus as early as possible to enjoy clear tone for a long time and not to damage the disc grooves. "

For MM/MI it is worth to look for mid or high compliance with nude diamonds only, at least Shibata or LineContact if you can find any at your price point. Some proper vintage MM will be much better than entry level new Nagaoka for sure.