Need p-stage for Sota/Audioquest/audiotechnica

Grimace, stick with your shure for now. Consider an external phono stage that will take both mm and mc. That should help. Then consider a new cartridge? Honestly, borrow my Cambridge 640 for a couple of days and see how much that helps. I think it is the best "budget" phono pre.

You might also want to look at the Parasound Zphono. Very good entry level pre amp that will accomadate both MM and MC carts.

The Dynavector P 75 turns up used here fairly regularly, in the $350-$425 range. The performance is staggeringly good for the money, and it will give you low-output MC through MM flexibility.

the mm audio tehnica 150x is superb...i use one on my aq arm

As it turns out, when I took the Shure off my Thorens the stylus was bent and a new one cost more than I paid for the whole cartridge so I decided to take the plunge. I wound up ordering the Audio-technica OC9 and the Project Tube Box. They should be here Friday. Neither of them were so expensive that it would be the end of the world to change one of them out at some point.

In any event - and I know this is far from kosher - I stuck the Shure on there even with the bent stylus. I just couldn't resist any longer. This TT sounds REALLY good. Really solid image, better bass, all that stuff. Can't wait to try it with a better cart.

EL, you'll have to swing over for a beer!