Help me decide: Grado Gold or AT440ML

Thanks for the responses. It looks like the AT440MLa is a nice cartridge but I don't know if I can align the VTA on my Rega RB300 (by the way I did not install it, it was installed by Merrill Audio, I bought the whole unit on eBay. At the time it had a Nagatron 350E cartridge, which I never heard of, so I installed the Grado Gold.) I am still not sure which way I should go. I'm thinking! I'm thinking!

Frankly I use my TT for transcribing to other media, most of the time. I tried a wood body Grado and have an AT440 mounted right now. I thought the Grado sounded great, but it picked up hum from the TT and did not track on the inside track all that well for me, despite fiddling with it. The AT may not be as refined as the Grado, but I found it played inside tracks with alot less distortion than the Grado and no hum problems. But now I am bored and gonna try a MC cart.

This response might come a bit late, as the thread's a month old, but in that price range the Shure M97xE is worth looking into. Its tonal balance is warm when it's new but gradually takes on a well-balanced neutrality. Best of all, it's known (and justly) for its tracking ability. The Absolute Sound just made it an editors' pick. There's a well-written review of it on this site, too.

Could someone please explain to me how this interchangeable needle overall schematics works. When you insert a new needle, you are getting new tip and cantilever? How are these attached to the magnet/coils? I am trying to advise my internet buddy on whether he should get a new cart or just a needle for his 30 yo AT cart. Please help!!

A new stylus includes all the moving parts of a moving magnet cartridge--stylus mounted to cantilever at the front end, suspension in the middle, magnets mounted at the other end of the cantilever, and the snap-in housing holding the whole thing together and aligned. The coils are permanently attached to the cartridge body interior.

So when you get a replacement stylus, you are actually getting the diamond stylus, the cantilever, the suspension, and the magnets. Getting a fresh suspension that comes with each replacement stylus should keep the cartridge fresh, although I suppose the coils might oxidize at some point, but I don’t know for a fact.

What is your buddy’s 30-year-old cartridge? I have had an AT150MLX for eight years and needed a replacement. AT was discontinuing the ATN150MLX stylus--gold-plated boron cantileverwith nude MicroLine stylus for the ATN150Sa--tapered aluminum cantilever with nude Shibata stylus. The few remaining boron/Microline stylii were taking on NOS prices; I got the Shibata version for $179.59 from Wal-Mart online, of all places. Snapped it into place and it sounds wonderful--sweet, smooth, and detailed without being distracting.