Help with Cartridge choice

If I understand you correctly you are planning on upgrading the cartridge first, then the turntable. I would reverse that. Turntable first.

I have been lucky with cartridges after my first budget ones. But it has required an enormous amount of research. For me, the starting point has been the sound of my existing cartridge… was it natural enough, detailed enough, tonal balance? If my existing one is bordering on too much detail (so it is bringing in too much surface noice)… or too warm with not enough detail… then this points to a direction… or if it is perfect, then higher level cartridge with the same characteristic. It also must be appropriate for your tone arm.

So, as a starting point, read every professional review on your existing cartridge, and then on cartridges in your price range. You have to carefully evaluate the nuances of the sound description and of the equipment being used by the reviewer… it’s not easy. But, the right cartridge is not an absolute, it can be different for every user and associated collection of equipment.

One Stop Shopping

Terrific 7 layer Plinth

quartz locked direct drive TT81 spinner,

JVC-Victor Long 7082 Tonearm, VTA on the Fly (counterweight rubber gasket is in great shape, Eugene sent me separate photos),

includes headshell/cartridge/new stylus;

includes 120/100v transformer

includes DIN cable

Includes AT auto-lift accessory, I love mine.

...........................................

get a spare headshell for your existing cartridge if not worn out. 

potential to add a second tonearm in the future

note: price is CAD, and I bet he would accept a lower offer.

I wrote Eugene because a friend almost bought this,

Total weight approx. 65lbs .

Box size 27" x 24" x 14" . (double boxed)

Shipping via Express UPS 2 days delivery - approx. $120 .

I would echo your instinct on the Audio Technica ART 9.  I had one. Superb cartridge for the money. And, even if it was 2x the price it would be worth it.  I cannot tell for sure but I think it is a decent match for that arm, but I've never been the best at the compliance math game and sometimes things sound good or bad regardless of the matchup. 

Thank you all for your suggestions. Unfortunately for the older tonearm i cannot find the effective mass. I will ask Sumiko who might have this information. I will say that this tonearm design is bad - very easily gets off VTA.

Perhaps I am trying to buy a good cartridge hoping that it can switch over to the new TT, but advice here seems to be to solve for now - in which case maybe i will do nothing at all until i am able to purchase the TT (looking at Origin Live Resolution with Illustrious Arm or Sparta 0.5).

Then again i could buy an AT cartridge for some immediate sonic benefits and trade up when new TT comes along.

Any additional perspectives welcome, and thanks to all who have contributed thus far.

@musicmatters1206 

I'm not familiar with the Sparta. But I am familiar with the Origin live, especially the Illustrious arm. I put the Illustrious arm on my Teres as a "temporary" arm. That was 12-14 yrs ago. I just upgraded to a TriPlanar Vll.. Yes, the TP is an upgrade. But the OL Illustrious  showed me  why I had kept it so long. It is a fine tonearm.. Best to you