best cartridge under $500

What phono stage will you be using? Without knowing that a cartridge recommendation is worthless, especially an MC recommendation, since MC's often have specific requirements for phono stage gain and impedance.

That said, unless you're prepared to spend $2K+ for a high quality LOMC, and have the rest of the system to get the most from it, IME you'll do as well or better sonically and much better financially with a good MM.

My reference cartridge is a $5K LOMC and I've had many other MC's in my system, from $500 to $12K. I also own an Ortofon M20FL Super, a really good MM ($150 on ebay). It outplays any of those LOMC's up to around $2K. For my money that makes any MC for < $2K a waste.

Check out Raul's MM vs. MC thread for ideas. Buy a few good MM's for $200 or less until you find one you like. Sell the rest and put $3-500 toward upgrading something else, like those scratched LPs! ;-)

Is there a slight possibility you sell this cartridge Audiomax?

LOL

I have to second Dougdeacon's comments. I owned a denon d160 and a denon 103R prior to reading Raul's MM vs. MC thread. I purchased 3 different Empire cartridges and all for $70 or less. Originally I purchase one and it blew my moving coils out of the water. This brought on the need for a second as a backup cartridge. The second is better than the first. This convinced me to sell my moving coils. Finally I purchased a third Empire which is rather astounding. With re-tips down the road I could possibly be set for life. Read and learn and enjoy Raul's MM vs. MC thread.
Sincerely,

Shure 97, must be heard. I know, can a $50 cartridge be good? Yes!

Agree with Doug with a single caveat. IME there are a handful of moving coils under $2K that are just as enjoyable or perhaps more than some of these excellent moving magnets. Zyx Airy 3 being one example.

However, I'm a big moving magnet fan and almost 50% of my cartridges are moving magnet/iron. Cut my teeth on the original Shure V-15 (old fart). They are by leaps and bounds much better values than moving coils. No contest.

For the past month or so I've spent a fair amount of time with these moving magnets:
ADM-TRX-2
Audio Technica ATN-150MLX
Audio Technica AM-30s
Signet TK7SU

I owned the Signet back in 1977 and parted with it foolishly. Recently came across an NOS and jumped at it. They are very difficult to find (NOS stylus almost impossible) but simply one of the finest cartridges I've heard/owned. If you find one buy it or email me.

It's stunning how wonderful many moving magnets sound.

No financial interest involved