Need New Cartridge Recommendation

I agree with Sugarbrie. For your listening taste and preamp, the Type V is unbeatable: high output (around 4-5 mV), replaceable stylus, low tracking force, 'four wheel drive', accurate and musical. You can get it for around $225 if you shop carefully.

I listen to all kinds of music and have a Monolithic Sound outboard phono stage, so I chose the Ortofon X5 high output MC (2 mV). Got it new in the box through member 2Juki and for $110 I don't think you could get anything better anywhwere:

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?anlgcart&1014483907

You do not mention any line conditioner in your system. In mine, it is the single most important component. You really need a good power line conditioner that will help out the Adcom's phono stage noise floor. Jon Risch's power line conditioner design can be obtained in kit form for something like $98 from www.diycable.com/ You would have to spend $440 on a Tice A/V Solo to make any more spending worthwhile.

If I'd been the first person to respond to your thread, I would also have suggested the Shure V15VxMR. (One note: the Shure has an output of 3.0 mV, not 4-5 as noted above.) But, since I'm not the first, I'll add the other suggestion I would have made: one of the Grado cartridges that retail for $200-300. They have high output as well -- a bit more than the Shure -- and also offer good tracking.

Errata: The output of the Type V is less than 4-5 mV. It's around 2.5-3 mV. Still high enough, though.

A Stanton 881S that is dialed in and properly loaded will mop the floor with the Shure. The Stanton can be found for well under $200 brand new, making it the best buy in moving magnet cartridges on the market.

I will say that the newer Shure is a big step forward in comparison to their older ( and still highly respected and reviewed ) cartridges. If anyone is to buy a Shure cartridge and like it, i would HIGHLY suggest buying at least one replacement styli RIGHT AWAY. Shure has discontinued models in the past and stopped supplying replacement styli at the same time. Nothing like buying a product and then having NO factory support whatsoever. If you don't believe this, talk to the people that bought V15 Type IV's. Sean
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A nice cartridge in ypur price range would be the Sumiko blue point special, around 2.5mv output and lists for $295 new but is usually discounted to the $225 range.