cartridge recommendations

I'm sorry, but I don't understand the responses to your question johnm21.

The Orpheus is no longer in production. It has been replaced by the Proteus. It has an output of .2 MV. I don't know what the maximum gain is for your Luxman but I would not buy the Proteus unless you have at least 60 db of gain available.

If you have not replaced the feet on your VPI with Stillpoints, I would recommend doing so before buying another cartridge. If you do not have your Vpi sitting on Stillpoints with a good platform such as an HRS, Symposium, SRA, or Ginko sitting beneath everything I suggest you do that before buying a new cartridge. Those changes will yield huge improvements to your analog playback.

Elinor -
My Classic 3 sits on a 3" maple shelf. In your opinion, would my table still benefit from sitting on Stillpoints? If so, why?
Thanks

The Proteus is a $3900 cartridge way beyond the $2500 budget, you can find a used Orpheus for under $2500, all day. I agree with the Stillpoints and platform tweak. Really, a great match for the VPI classic with the unipivot tonearm is the DELOS by Lyra, and its only $1500.

Elinor...my experience with a Gingko platform with my VPI is that it absolutely ruined the sound. VPIs have to be solidly grounded to the center of the earth for best performance.

I've never heard a Lyra I didn't like, but I think the wood-bodied Grados are
also worthy of consideration. They top out at $3500, but the next one down
is under budget at $1500. They are available in the Reference series with a
4-5 mV output or in the Statement series with an output of 0.5mV due to far
fewer windings.

Reviews of this entire series are quite favorable; they tend to outperform
popular cartridges at their price points. A review of their top line Statement 1
asserted that it was clearly more resolving (while being lush and romantic)
than the much more expensive $5500 Koetsu Orushi Blue.