cartridge recommendations

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.

ZYX airy3 is a good cartridge in that price range. One of the best trackers i have used. Works well for a wide variety of music. I listen to rock, jazz and even a little classical and was never disappointed with my airy. Its my backup now as i just got a UNIverseII.