Best cartridge options for around $200.

Shure M97xE. It tests with a near flat frequency response with the Ultimate Analogue Test LP. There is NOT a high end roll off, contrary to what other people claim by listening as compared to testing in real-time. I suggest using the Stevenson alignment geometry; I found no inner groove distortion problems or mis-tracking problems with the Stevenson at 1.25g Vertical Tracking Force (brush up). It sounded shockingly similar to my Dynavector 17D3. But, it's around $75, not $200. If you like boosted treble response, look elsewhere. If you like neutral, there is no other moving magnet I would recommend over this one, and I own the Audio Technica AT150MLX and Ortofon 2M Black. Don't let the low price fool you into thinking it's not an amazing piece of gear.

01-13-13: Dconsmack
Shure M97xE. It tests with a near flat frequency response with the Ultimate Analogue Test LP. There is NOT a high end roll off, contrary to what other people claim by listening as compared to testing in real-time.

Well, here's a review at TNT-Audio with frequency plots that show a downward tilt in the treble of 3dB or more relative to 1KHz. It's down at least 3dB by 10KHz at all capacitances, but has severe dropoff above 10Khz with capacitance above 370 pF. These graphs were plotted from Hi-Fi News test record pink noise tracks.

I have an M97xE; it's all right, tracks well, and if you use the damper brush it can track severely warped records. When they show up for $56 on Amazon they're worth snatching up. Otherwise, at $200 my candidates would be the Grado Silver or Gold, Ortofon 2M Blue, Goldring G2100, Ortofon MC 1 Turbo HOMC, or Clearaudio Concept V2. If it were up to me, I'd throw in another $125 and get the Audio Technica AT150MLX at LPGear.com. I have the M97xE, Ortofon OM10, and Denon DL-160, and the AT150MLX is *easily* that much better.

Nice range of carts, Johnnyb53. I'd love to hear if you've compared the AT150MLX to a hot-rodded Denon 103 or 103R (Zu or Soundsmith).

No, I haven't compared the AT150MLX to any of the DL103 variants. The AT150MLX gives me what I was looking for and is pretty much plug-n-play as long as you keep the total capacitive load between 100 and 200 pF. I've been happy enough with it not to experiment with another cartridge with entirely different gain, loading, and tracking force requirements. That may be my loss but I can live with it for now.

I do have an audiobuddy who went through an Ortofon 2M Red and an Ortofon MC 1 Turbo before settling on a DL-103, which he absolutely loves.

Great, but a 103 is over $200 while the Denon 110 is about $120 , had the Denon house sound and will smoke a Shure or Grado and has a more refined treble that the AT's.