Much better MM cartridge than Shure V15 IV?

I have the table on a corian sandwich with three sorbothane semi-sheres in-between the two 1/2 " thick slabs. It's a DIY result that looks good. i have no idea if this could be improved upon! Any suggestions welcome. I know Pro-ject makes a 'Ground-it' isolation platform, but i have never tried it.

While I enjoy my updated Virtuoso black at present I still
regard Stanton 881 S as one of the best MM carts ever. Much
less money for the Stanton btw. Look for the 81 stereohedron stylus.

Regards,

Nandric, that's quite a recommendation, comparing it to the Virtuoso. Thanks. I've never considered Stantons....Is that model still available? I'm not finding it online yet.

While the Audio Technical AT150MLX costs less than many of the carts under discussion, (currently about $325 at lpgear), it is an excellent cartridge on several fronts, quick and responsive, yet has a nice full-bodied sound.

Two things to make it work well in your rig: you should probably add a headshell weight to get a better arm weight/compliance match as the AT150MLX has a lower compliance than the V15. Second, the AT150MLX likes to see a 100-200 pF capacitive load. If your Cronus isn't configurable for that, then you need to choose some interconnects that have 100-200 (ideally 150) pF capacitance. That rules out your current Blue Jeans.

Anyway, I've been living with an AT150MLX for 3-1/2 years and still love it like I did when it first broke in. I've upgraded everything downstream a few times (including cabling) and each time revealed how much better the cartridge is than I first realized.

It's finally getting noticed in the high end press; Abso!ute Sound named it Cartridge of the Year for 2011.

Also, I get great results with this heavy butcher block cutting board, isolated from above and below. It's just an opinion at this point, but I think maple does a better job of absorbing vibrations than Corian. I have a friend with a Music Hall turntable (made in same factory as Pro-Ject) who also uses one of these with excellent results.

Sumaaro, I see Stanton 881s regulary on ebay.com. Look for
a good specimen with 81 stereohedron stylus in pristine
condition. If you have no luck email me.

Regards,