My 2M Black is in need of replacement - too many hours - and I am not ready to get a MC cartridge at the moment, so I figured this could be a good bridge that won’t cost too much to get going.
What is "not too much" for you ?
I forgot to mention that SONY XL-50 is amazing MM with Boron Pipe cantilever and Jico styli also available for this model (but can’t compete with the original). It took me a while to find XL-70 with Sapphire cantilever to complete my collection of the best SONY MM. I have NOS XL-50.
ADC Astrion with Sapphire (NOS) was the worst cartridge I ever heard compared to many vintage MM from the same era. And this ADC Astrion was promoted here on audiogon in MM thread, I bought it NOS and was totally disappointed! The XLM mkII is lower model (same cartridge body, but cheaper stylus). Those carts must be avoided in my opinion, almost any new MM like Garrott P77i is so much better.
Few years ago I shipped Grace LEVEL II Ruby to another audiogon member, this year he told me it was superior to his Ortofon M2 Black and I am not surprised. But LEVEL II is more expensive than Ortofon.
If you really want something cheap and great then Stanton 881 or Pickering XSV/3000 are "best buy" in my opinion. often on ebay for $350-450 even NOS.
If you need only new then look for Garrott Brothers cartridges from Australia.