Best cartridge under $450? No Grados please

Dynavector 10x5, no doubt. An incredible value. I can't believe anything touches it at the price, or even higher.

Shure V15 is one of the best with a long track record. Objective specs (such as tracking ability) are the best. Subjective evaluations (how it sounds) are just that, and you should make those judgements with your own ears. The price is right.

I have been down the MC road, and I have heard sound from my system that was more pleasing than that provided by a Shure, but I have come back to the Shure because, to me, the improvement wasn't enough to be worth the expense and hassle.

I think the Clearaudio Aurum Beta and the the S version are excellent carts for the price. My Beta was something like $275--got it for an AR ES-1 and will go on my Gyrodec until I can afford a Koetsu. The woods are very nice as well. I haven't heard Dynavector, unfortunately. The Shure's a classic, but I personally feel that others perform better at the price...that's my two cents, hope it helps...

Seems like you have only a MM phono stage. If you have more gain that can handle a MC low output cartridge, but believe that you can't get a good one in your price category, take a look at a Denon DL103R, DL103S, or DL103D. They are all very good low output MC cartridges that are well under your price ceiling. For your "best cartridge under $450" classification, these have to be considered, although they do need about 65-70db gain in the phono stage.

Ortofon X5MC for about 125 street, or if you hunt you may find a new Kontrapunct B for about 500, or a Kontra A for less than 400.