Audio-Technica VM750SH or Goldring 1042

@rauliruegas . you are right, an anecdote does not a study make. Yes, the VM sounded surprisingly good with the tonearm's -ss way up in the air. It is not the only AT cartridge I have examined that was not satisfactory. Perhaps the more expensive cartridges are better, but what does that say about the manufacturer?  As you noted it is the way the manufacturer handles the problem that counts. Most people who buy inexpensive cartridges have no idea how to set up a cartridge and usually leave that up to the dealer. The bad cartridges go unnoticed. Then there are nutbags like me who examine every nick and cranny they can get into. It is said there are only two or three manufacturers of cantilever stylus assemblies. There are way more categories of fit and finish and it is very obvious that the more expensive cartridges are getting better units, much better units. There are a few exceptions and the Goldring 1042 is one of them. I have not examined a Nag Mp-500 but I suspect it is one of them also from pictures I have seen. 

Any manufacturer that lets a cartridge loose in that condition de facto has a QC problem. I'm not saying ATs are bad cartridges. The designers do not make them. You do have to be careful when you buy one and make sure everything lines up correctly.  

@mijostyn  : I always take care about.

But the issue is that you still " attack " to AT but you posted nothing for a more sever " errors " by top Ortofon and Lyra  manufacturers. I owned and own cartridges from these ( both ) companies and I " love " it.

R.

@rauliruegas , Sorry if I hurt your sensibilities but I cannot discount my own experience when offering advice. You make your counterpoint which is fine. I'm sure the two of us could solve the debt ceiling crisis in a heartbeat:-) 

Dear @mijostyn : Way before you be aware of the anomaly of the At 95 ML you touted in Agon its quality performance.

AT/Signet has more than 60 years in the market and is a corporation not only with great MM/MC cartridges like the AT MC1000 that I still own ( diamond cantilver and very low output o.1mv. ) but with other products as tonearms like the 1100 or the 1010 that are first class items, first after market vacuum hold LP AT 666 and AT 665, excellent pneumatic suspension isolator AT 616, first class SUT AT 1000T ( 8kg. ) , very good microphones vocal and for recording , headphones including electrostatic ones, was one of the first corporation using the PCOCC in its cartridges and cables, the first manufacturer to have a battery operated stylus tip AT-637,and the first one elctronic CD cleaner AT6060, all cartridge/tonearm/ LP/ great accesories you can imagine including Mats and clamps, electronics and speakers marketed only in Japan. Even AT had at least one D2D LP made by them and marketed a LP/system tester that includeddddd the test LP.

I own or owned almost all those products but electronic/speaker. Which of those had you or have first hand experience other than the 90.00 AT 95 ML?

In the last 40 years is the only cartridge manufacturer not only to attempt but to put in the market two LOMC cartridges that shows not only its top cartridge engeenring levels but its second to none quality level manufacturer with these cartridges:

AT-ART1000Direct Power Stereo Moving Coil Cartridge (audio-technica.com)

Dual Moving Coil Stereo Cartridge | AT-MC2022 | Audio-Technica

As me you are another audiophile with the rigth to talk, so I respect that even that I disagree with you and no you did not hurt my sensibility this is not why I'm talking through my posts but only about your ignorance in this regards.

R.