Audio-Technica VM750SH or Goldring 1042

The 1042 is an excellent cartridge punching well above its price range. Comparable cartridges are the Clearaudio Charisma and the Soundsmith Voice both way more expensive. The Gyger S stylus is no more difficult to set up than either a Shibata or even elliptical stylus. The procedure is identical. Line contact styluses like the Gyger S are also quieter than other Styluses. I am not a huge fan of AT cartridges as IMHO they have the worst QC of any cartridge manufacturer with styluses mounted in comical directions. 

Dear @hedwigstheme  : I agree with @williewonka about AT and disagree with @mijostyn  on qc of Audio Tecnica where I own and owned over 15 different models and never/ever I had or have any kind of qc manufacturer problem.

Now, inside your price range other very good alternative is  Nagaoka:

https://www.lpgear.com/product/NAGAOKAMP200.html

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

Just to claify my statement about the setup of the more advanced contact line cartridges...

• many people will use a paper based protractor to setup their cartridge, but this is not accurate enough for very fine stylus profiles like those on contact line cartridges
• A mirror protractor has much finer lines and makes the setup process a little more accurate and time consuming. It requires good eyesight, something which is failing in my case, so I had a younger friend with 20/20 vision assist me and we took photo’s to ensure everything was just right
• there was a noticeable improvement over the setup I performed initially using a paper protractor, i.e. once my young friend tweaked the allignment using a mirror protractor

I could be wrong, but I "think" the Shibata profile could be a little more "forgiving"?

• any comments on this thought would be appreciated

Regards - Steve

@rauliruegas , I wish I could say otherwise Raul but I have examined a few recent AT cartridges and their tolerances are just not as tight as they should be. I had one VM 95ML under the scope that had a SRA of 86 degrees which is the worst I have ever seen. Granted it is a less expensive cartridge but it speaks to a corporate mentality. I am also not crazy about some of their designs but that is an opinion a SRA of 86 degree is not an opinion.

@williewonka , I certainly agree that the mirrored protractors make life easier and more accurate. The criteria for setting up cartridges is the same regardless of stylus profile. Lofgren B is Lofgren B. You are either accurate or you are not. Fine line styluses may be more critical in some respects sounding worse if you are not accurate. I have to say that is have seen some amazingly terrible setups with the owner not aware they had a problem. https://i.imgur.com/iVEyDli.jpg  Here is a picture of my heavily modified WallyScope. It is showing a cartridge with an azimuth off by 25 degrees. It was noticed when the cartridge started mistracking. The cartridge was replaced under warranty. Every cartridge I buy or setup is carefully examined for defects that might affect performance.  

Leaning toward AT VM750SH. Microline styli seem toomuch trouble and Nagaoka priced at a premium.