My present go-to recommendation for cartridge questions, is to call Soundsmith with your system info and budget, and listen very carefully. You will get a quality US made product with a reasonable stylus replacement cost and spectacular imaging.
@oldears
Peter at SoundSmith is recommending to avoid any MC cartridges in his lectures, none of his own cartridges are MC.
His cartridges are Moving Iron, but the OP is asking for LOMC
SS carts are definitely the best in terms of service, this is great, but they are not the best cartridges in the world.
I will ask Soundsmoth, but would prefer something Japanese.
That’s right, Japanese is the way to go.
Before you will ask Peter at SoundSmith please watch his lecture.
Most likely Peter’s the answer will be SoundSmith cartridge as he’s not a consultant in choosing cartridges from some other manufacturers for anyone.
