Thanks for the suggestions. It seems that many have had good results with the OC9-Ittok combination. Still others have praised the lesser known AT33PTG as slightly more detailed than the OC9 and 'better' overall.
The Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood recommendation is also interesting, but I was tending to favor an MC. Ideally I'd prefer an MM that offered MC performance and detail, with low tracking force and a replaceable stylus... But all I can recall is the old Shure V15-VMR, which wasn't bad for what it did.
Audio Technica also offers another MM, the AT150MLX, a replaceable stylus design, for about the price of an AT33PTG. Any experiences with this cartridge or is the MC design always the 'better' sound? (There must be a long MM vs. MC thread somewhere on Agone?)
I remain open to either MM or MC, as my current K18 really sounds decent...But I may not know what I'm missing, not having tried a good MC. The Shelter 501 is also recommended as often as the OC9, but at a higher price point than seems necessary to a fellow who is moving up from a K18...and the 501 is also an option, not ruled out.
The Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood recommendation is also interesting, but I was tending to favor an MC. Ideally I'd prefer an MM that offered MC performance and detail, with low tracking force and a replaceable stylus... But all I can recall is the old Shure V15-VMR, which wasn't bad for what it did.
Audio Technica also offers another MM, the AT150MLX, a replaceable stylus design, for about the price of an AT33PTG. Any experiences with this cartridge or is the MC design always the 'better' sound? (There must be a long MM vs. MC thread somewhere on Agone?)
I remain open to either MM or MC, as my current K18 really sounds decent...But I may not know what I'm missing, not having tried a good MC. The Shelter 501 is also recommended as often as the OC9, but at a higher price point than seems necessary to a fellow who is moving up from a K18...and the 501 is also an option, not ruled out.