Cartridge - sweet spot on the cost/sound curve?

Time to play Sherlock Holmes, make notes

Imbalance: Assuming you are right, I would prove it is the cartridge, i.e. rule out other potential problems before I bought a new cartridge: Your phono: you have two sets of interconnects, and a variety of tubes in 2 devices and a specific preamp input that are all different than your digital source.

1. move the digital to the input you are using for your phono pre: still imbalanced, then it’s that input, not .... good, it’s somewhere in the phono chain, where exactly?

2. switch phono l and r, weak moves to the other side, tells you ......

3.

4.

Cartridge re-builders say the MAJORITY of cartridges they receive have had inaccurate anti-skate for years, uneven wear leads to uneven sound: the replacement needs to be right. Who will install/calibrate your new cartridge?

I also like AT MM cartridges with excellent sound and imaging specs (wide channel separation/tight channel balance) replaceable MicroLine stylus which have the largest contact surface, thus longest life and minimize wear on your grooves.

They track at 2.0g, I prefer lighter, and I prefer stiffer cantilever, I risk used vintage cartridges to get beryllium which is no longer used, recently bought two used AT, AT150e and AT160 bodies with ATN160ML stylus which track at 1.25g, each in your budget, but buying used cartridges is not for most people I know.

Swap the phono leads on your PS Audio phono to make sure the sound level issue reverses (to rule out an issue with the amp.)

EDIT: ^ Elliott got there before me!

Grado Prestige Green $125 is an easy recommendation.

I meant to say, when buying new, I prefer lighter/stiffer boron for cantilever material over aluminum

If your phono stage can handle low output moving coil cartridges a Denon DL 310 MK II can be had from a trusted seller 2Juki for $330. If higher output is needed then the Denon DL110 is in the low 200's. Output voltage is higher, but not as high as a typical moving magnet. You MIGHT have to add a bit of volume from where your typical volume setting was for the Sumiko cartridge, but it will work. These are the two most affordable moving coil cartridges I am aware of. Otherwise you are looking at moving magnets, typically the Audio Technica AT95 family, or the 540ml which costs in the mid to high $200's.