Got the table now I need a good arm and cart combo

good but cheap Jelco, look for used on this site

Brownsanandy...choice of cartridge is not only a function of the matching tonearm but also of the phono stage you plan on using. Also, if you really want helpful suggestions, it would be advisable to give a range on budget otherwise you will get suggestions all over the map from sub $1000 for the combo to $10K+ for the tonearm/cart so budget would be helpful.

Rega 301 with Ortofon 2m bronze cartridge

For this time round I need to stay in the $500 range and will be looking for a phono stage or new preamp soon.

Hi,

For $500 you can find decent sound that can be readily sold when your budget increases enough for an upgrade. There are quite a few of those choices, but here are a couple that are known performers.

Audio-Technica 1005II tonearm with a Denon 103 cartridge. This is a perfect match for effective mass, but requires a moving coil step-up of some sort. Cinemag transformers will work for that, and keep you under budget, if you shop carefully.

Another one would be a Magnepan Unitrac tonearm with a Shure M97XE cartridge. You'll have money left over with this combo, but you will still have music.

Last of all, a Schroeder Reference SQ tonearm with a Lyra Olympos cartridge driven through Intact Audio transformers...no, wait... ;)