Grado Prestige Gold 3

I'm a fan of MI cartridges, and while these aren't in your price range, the comparison might hold true for more affordable examples in the two companies' line-up of products. I recently bought and compared a Nagaoka MP-500 and a Grado Lineage Statement 3. I've got 80 hours on the Grado, and it still doesn't excite me one bit. It does its job, but it doesn't make music - it's lifeless. The MP-500, on the other hand, absolutely rocks. Delightful, fun, maybe just a little overly bouncy. But a real bargain compared to the Grado.

Normally I use a London Decca Reference, but it has gone for a rebuild before John Wright (the maker) retires in November. So these two above, plus a London Jubilee and a BM Ruby 3 have been keeping me occupied. If I outlive the Deccas, which isn't likely, the MP-500 and the Ruby 3 will keep me very happy. I now understand why Grado cartridges have lost a lot of the popularity they once enjoyed.

+1 @dogberry I've 3 Deccas and love them. That's bad news about JW retiring. 

It certainly is, but not really relevant in this thread. You're going to be in the strange position of telling others who have never heard them why they were so special, along with me. No one will ever believe us!

Thanks for all the great advice. The Nagaoka MP 500 has peaked my interest @dogberry but I wonder if I’m bumping up against the limits of the Linn Axis with Basic Plus arm. I love the table and I haven’t heard one better yet under $2500, but I assume at some point the cartridge is limited by the table and arm. I just don’t know what that limit is. Maybe the MP 500 is it?

The effective mass of your arm is said to be 10g, which is probably a bit low to satisfy those who believe in calculations. Then again, my SME Series V is said to be too light for the Deccas, and it plainly works fine!