Update on my TT causing distortion at higher volume

OP,

Just out of interest… multiple cartridges? Why? Cartridges get better with cost… they combine the positive attributes of different less expensive cartridges, while dramatically reducing surface noise and increasing dynamic impact. of course increasing your investment in the TT as well has to be a part of early upgrades.

Anyway, you might consider a single cartridge until you can upgrade the whole rig. I the range of your TT jumps of 2x or 3x will net really substantial improvements in sound.

Since the SLP05 is a linestage, I have to wonder what you’re using for a phono stage. Could it be that you’re driving a high gain MC phono stage with an MM cartridge (the Ortofon Red)? This would inevitably overload such a phono stage and cause the objectionable distortion you describe. If not, then you just need a better cartridge, and that’s not hard to achieve, given your present starting point.

@cinqcepages you're also doing at least basic calibration when you install the cartridge on your tonearm? Failure to calibrate may be why you find the 2M Red fatiguing since that's generally not the case for that cartridge. Which is why it can be a bit annoying to switch between cartridges frequently instead of just getting one really good one and sticking with it.

First, by owning and listening to one MC cartridge and one MM cartridge, you will not learn "the difference" between MM and MC. You will only learn the difference between the two particular cartridges.

Second, according to the internet, the E-glo has provision for both MM and MC types. Just be sure you have connected your Ortofon MM into the MM inputs. If so, then check the capacitance loading which is adjustable on your E-glo. You guesstimate total capacitance load by adding the capacitance of your phono cables to the inherent apacitance of the phono input and the added load capacitance at the phono stage (which is the adjustable parameter on your E=glo). If the total capacitance is much different from recommended for your cartridge, that too can cause distortion. Load resistance should be 47K ohms or higher.