best MM cartridge...

¿So where is Raul?... oh well, I,m almost sure he is going to say something like: What,s the best MM.. but for what arm?
but lets wait for his opinion. As said above check out his previous threads on this subject.

what about one of the Grado References? Moving iron instead of MM but same output.

Dear Jlamb: I'm sorry to hear that you " lost " on that thread, well from that same thread:

+++++ " If you ask me which one is the best I can tell you that this will be a very hard “ call “ an almost impossible to decide, I think that I can make a difference between the very good ones and the stellar ones where IMHO the next cartridges belongs to this group:

Audio Technica ATML 170 and 180 OCC, Grado The Amber Tribute, Grace Ruby, Garrot P77, Nagaoka MP-50 Super, B&O MMC2 and MMC20CL, AKG P8ES SuperNova, Reson Reca ,Astatic MF-100 and Stanton LZS 981.

There are other ones that are really near this group: ADC Astrion, Supex MF-100 MK2, Micro Acoustics MA630/830, Empire 750 LTD and 600LAC, Sonus Dimension 5, Astatic MF-200 and 300 and the Acutex 320III. " +++++

you can find NOS or second hand many of these cartridges: B&O, Grace, Nagaoka, Reson, Clearaudio, Audio Technica ( 150 ), Empire, Garrot and Grado. Almost all of them are in your budget and are great cartridges.

Of course, like Cardani posted, with the right tonearm.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

thanks to all for your responses!
being an analog newbie, I greatly appreciate everyone's input...

I can't believe nobody mentioned the Cartridge Man MusicMaker III or the Classic.