best MM cartridge...

what about one of the Grado References? Moving iron instead of MM but same output.

Dear Jlamb: I'm sorry to hear that you " lost " on that thread, well from that same thread:

+++++ " If you ask me which one is the best I can tell you that this will be a very hard “ call “ an almost impossible to decide, I think that I can make a difference between the very good ones and the stellar ones where IMHO the next cartridges belongs to this group:

Audio Technica ATML 170 and 180 OCC, Grado The Amber Tribute, Grace Ruby, Garrot P77, Nagaoka MP-50 Super, B&O MMC2 and MMC20CL, AKG P8ES SuperNova, Reson Reca ,Astatic MF-100 and Stanton LZS 981.

There are other ones that are really near this group: ADC Astrion, Supex MF-100 MK2, Micro Acoustics MA630/830, Empire 750 LTD and 600LAC, Sonus Dimension 5, Astatic MF-200 and 300 and the Acutex 320III. " +++++

you can find NOS or second hand many of these cartridges: B&O, Grace, Nagaoka, Reson, Clearaudio, Audio Technica ( 150 ), Empire, Garrot and Grado. Almost all of them are in your budget and are great cartridges.

Of course, like Cardani posted, with the right tonearm.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

thanks to all for your responses!
being an analog newbie, I greatly appreciate everyone's input...

I can't believe nobody mentioned the Cartridge Man MusicMaker III or the Classic.

I certainly second the motion on the Reson Reca; I'd also add the Ortofon Super OM40 (and if the newer Ortofon 2M Black is better than the OM40, long their top MM cartridge, it will be excellent indeed).

I myself use the Reson Reca with a Rega RB-250 with full Origin Live mods and the Ortofon Super OM40 with a Signet (= Audio Technica) XK50 rewired with Cardas. Both are on a Technics SP-10MKII-P with DIY 20 kg Corian-MDF-birch plywood base.

I, too, have long heard about the superiority of MC cartridges, but once I put this rig together, I liked it so much, it defused any urge to upgrade. Of course, YMMV.

Regards,

Joel.