Cartridge matching your arm and table is the key. It is not as simple as picking "the best cartridge." My dealer fit a Benz Glider (thats 2 cartridges higher in Benz'line than the MC) to my LP12/Akito combo and it was horrible. Flat, dull, and lifeless. We put on a Blue Point Special and it was much better. It was dynamic, transparent, and expressive. I am not saying that the Blue Point Special is a better cartridge than a Benz Glider, just that in my setup it was better. I heard the very same Benz Glider perform wonderfully with a Michel Gyrodec and SME 3009 tonearm. However, I can say the Blue Point Special is definitely not junk!