Audio-Technica VM750SH or Goldring 1042

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.

Can't go too wrong with the 750. It's a good budget cartridge.  I have one in a 12" Jelco 850 as a spare.