Cartridge advice needed, dynavector 20xh now what?


Hello, I am wondering what cartridges would be a big step up from my Dynavector 20xh without breaking the bank. I won't specify a price other than below $1500 retail new and hopefully less. I purchased the Dyna 20xh to use with my Spacedeck/Anna tonearm because I only had a mm phono pre built in my DK Design amp. I have since picked up the new Eastern Electric Tube Minimax phono pre that has mm/mc low & mm high inputs. I am loving vinyl & my setup. I wonder how much better things will get if I upgrade the cartridge end of things. I would continue to look within the Dynavector line but also hear an awful lot of good things about ZYX cartridges. At this point I am really just hoping to hear suggestions from users or different MC carts who could give me an idea on the range of improvement to be expected. I haven't played a cd since I got the Spacedeck spinning. I have been buying vinyl every week & having a blast. Thanks again for all the help along the way.
nicksgem10s
One more vote for ZYX and Mehran... I recently replaced a Benz M2 cartridge with a ZYX Fugi. A huge step up and I haven't stopped spinning vinyl since. Incredibly neutral, detailed, balanced top to bottom with a wonderfully 3D soundstage.

And as the posts here attest, Mehran is a total class act. Super helpful and of highest integrity. If you're in the market for a great cartridge at a good price, the ZYX cartridges from Mehran/SORASound should definitely be on your short list.
Not to beat the drum to death, but ZYX & Mehran - can't do any better than that. He is, first and foremost, a fantastic person to interact with. Simply a guy with tremendous enthusiasm for this hobby. Second, he truly tries as hard as possible to help potential customers make the best choice for their systems and personal tastes. No hard sell or double-talk.

I probably talked to him 5 times(or more) on the phone and several emails while I bounced back and forth between wanting a ZYX and not. At the time, there was a lot of hype from very few people and risk was huge for me financially on a fairly unknown cartridge line. Nonetheless, Mehran always was patient and understanding, telling me to take my time, do my homework, think it over.

And, he stands behind his sales 100%. Add to that trade-in credit on upgrades. Can't get any better than that!

PS. Take Dougdeacon's weighting suggestion to heart. I toiled for almost a year thinking my ZYX Fuji R-100 FS (Silver) was mediocre and lightweight. Adding the extra mass took it to a whole 'nother level, really. Two totally different carts, with and without the added weight.

Doug's complete suggestion for proper weighting out of a post last month:

"Subtract the effective mass of your arm from 18 or so. Add about that many grams to the headshell. Rebalance, reset VTF and play."
Darkmoebius,

That's a pretty cool formula. I wonder what it would be like to remember my own posts? ;-)
Hi Doug,

One of many little pearls of wisdom that get dropped around here from time to time. In all honesty, without that tip, I probaly would have sold off my Fuji FS and considered all the ZYX talk as hype. Now, I'm happy as a clam, but looking to possibly move up the line - good for my listening pleasure, bad for my retirement fund.

The tradeoffs we make....
years back i heard a friend with the shelter 501 on a nottingham deck, cant remember which model it was, i thought it sounded real well. I vote for the 501II