Cartridge Advice Please

@dhite71 You have stated, 

"I failed to share my budget but that would definitely be above : ) I am hoping to stay around $2000-$3000. 

There are Cart's being recommended that will retail at a substantial increase over this, especially the MSL Gold or Platinum.

I am a Ortofon user and have been demonstrated a variety of their models, some are noticeably Rich in Tone (Not my Thing), others can grow toward a lean presentation (more to my taste, but not overly transparent). Most Cart's from this Brand have been able to embed a very good impressions. 

I am hoping over the next year to be able to experience demonstrations of a few Companies Flagship Models inclusive of Ortofon's latest design.

The Ortofon Verismo and the MSL Platinum are of interest.

I have the offer to experience the Verismo in a home system and am yet to make a date.

The place for a Platinum to be demonstrated is yet to be found, I am at present assuming a HiFi Event will be the location.

When these are achieved, I will have one more demonstration to seek out, which is the Mutech Hayabusa. I have followed the reports of a user of the some of the Cart's recommended above, and it has been discovered, that the Hayabusa is claimed to be almost on par in overall performance with a MSL Platinum, and seriously worth considering as a alternative choice.     

The Hayabusa falls in purchase value and can be found closer to your made known Budget. The Budget might need an increase by a $1000ish, but the Cart's performance for this money, if the reports are to be believed (which I do believe) suggests another $5000-$6000 increase in budget is required to acquire the Platinum and not have a much improved performance. 

Looking into the Hayabusa as an option will only increase your awareness of what options are available to you.    

@audphile1 - you do bring up a good point that I have recognized and worked with in the past.  I don't recall how the actual dimensions compared when I had the Aphelion 2 but I did buy the spacer set and adjusted the arm from the base.  I did not hear any differences with my previous Benz or the current Kiseki.  I know many hear major changes in sound while adjusting the VTA so not sure if mine was already close enough to be good or if this is something too subtle for me to hear.  Looking at my table now the arm is almost perfectly parallel to the record.  The cartridge may be up 1 or 2 deg from the base. 

@pindac - My limited experiences with demos has left me disappointed.  When you are auditioning these cartridges at a dealer do they have a setup with a headshell where they are allowing you to hear a known cartridge which you are currently use or know well and then swapping out the contender(s)?  I have no dealers near me so my experiences are limited to business trips and trying to coordinate an hour or two in to go visit someone....I don't have a rapport with anyone.  I will focus on the used market and often times as the retail climbs the expected resale value percentage drops so hoping $3000 will present opportunities for a $6000-$8000 cartridge.  I was not familiar with Hayabusa so will read up on that brand...thanks!

@dhite71 good to know you have the shims. When you get a new cartridge I highly recommend Dr. Feichert latest gen protractor if you don’t yet have all the tools to set this up, unless you’re planning on having a dealer set it up for you. With Rega carts you get the Overhang and VTA right without much effort (three headshell screws, preset VTA). This isn’t the case with a non-Rega carts.
You have a nice system, get as close as possible with whatever cartridge you get. It’s worth the investment of time and effort.

@dhite71 I'm happy to have introduced you to the Hayabusa.

The link will introduce you to some of the reports to be found on it and other Cart's that may fall within your budget.

 https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/comparison-of-some-cartridges-in-the-4k-region-soundsmith-the-voice-ikeda-9-tt-ortofon-windfeld-ti-air-tight-pc1.28733/

@dhite71 The Link is one I have read for the first time.

The content will help one to better understand the Design Intent and Materials used for some of the Cart's that are being suggested.

There is also very good descriptions of how Cart's compare from the same stable. There should be enough being discussed, to help with assisting your producing a used MC Cart' Shortlist.  

This individual is one of a very few, who I have followed for quite some time. There experiences attained through using a vast selection of Vinyl Replay Devices is way beyond that of many enthusiasts. It is off interest that I have now learned they have now began to adopt PC Triple C Wire in the Signal Path for the Cart'.

I have been a advocate of PC Triple C Wire used in the Cart's Signal Path for a few years now. This started as Ortofon Tag Wires, which from recollection really impressed and has over time expended to using it as a Signal Wire in Interconnects, Speaker Cables and now it is also being used as a Wire in Power Cables.

I have also been Instrumental in encouraging others to use it, which has resulted in the extended usage, where the Wire is now being used as Wand Wire from Cart' Tags through to RCA Connectors, Internal Hook Up wire on a Phonostage and Internal Cabinet Wire in a Speaker.

At present SAEC is the only Company using the PC Tri[le C wire as a Wand Wire on a Tonearm costing appox' £13000  

My wish is for the Wire to be found in a Cart' Coil and Lead Out Pins, hopefully AT might do this, as they did with OCC Wire.

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/my-personal-journey-to-my-sonic-lab.30722/