Decisions, decisions....


I'm one of the Naim fold, getting back into vinyl in a more serious way. I currently have a Moth (i.e., Rega P2) with a rewired, re-weighted RB-300 , currently using a Shure V15vxmr that to my ears sounds pretty darn good. Recently I have acquired three other things, all needing to be set up and give a listen. 1-an older Sota Sapphire with the Sumiko arm, 2-a Rega P7, and 3-a Linn LP12. I'm a bit ocd-hence the case of GAS. A musician to boot. So what cartridges would you folks out there recommend? I'm set up to go either MM or MC, and I have a couple of the Shures-one NIB. Like I said, the Sota has the Sumiko arm; the Linn is pre-Cirkus, Akito, Valhalla, Trampolin; the Rega, of course has the 700. I am eager to try the MC route-trying to keep cartridge costs under $2k each (or about that)-which brings up another obvious question, does a Lyra Delos, or a Koetsu Black, etc, outclass the tables I own? And the cartridge doesn't have to be that expensive if there are options that would get me "there" for less. Would I be better off selling the lot and getting a single, more expensive deck? I like the idea of checking different things out, but I suppose I could do without that. One caveat-I haven't heard the VPI Classic, but I must say that the other VPI's, though they sound good, seem a bit overly analytical for my taste. That said, please share your thoughts.
goforth
Goforth, Insofar as the Linn tt's, in my estimation, tend to make all music sound "good", in a way that masks the fact that on occasion real life music can be startling and even briefly unsettling, you might ask yourself whether the "overly analytical" character you ascribe to VPI is at least in part an indication that the VPI is doing a better job of conveying all the information on an LP. The VPI may be right on the money, whereas the Linn may be a little to sweet for its own good. I am only talking about how each of us has to analyze why we hear the way we hear; I candidly admit I have no experience with actual home ownership of either company's products.
You should try to listen to all of the tables you have, so that you don't have regrets later on. Once you have done that, sell the tables that aren't your top choice. After all how many turntables can you listen to at the same time? It sounds like you prefer "musical" presentations, and may want to save some money by using an MM cart.
With all the money you have from this process get a killer phono stage.
In analog you will find endless turntables in various price ranges which have one in common: They sound more or less identical and the owners recommend anything to anyone because they don't know it better.... I would support the answer from Dhcod, that is a really good choice. And I would add the Townsend Rock turntable.
I'm not an vinyl expert but unless you enjoy tinkering w your 'tables, I'd second/third the idea of getting one table, but I think you might focus on one that can handle 2 or 3 arms or get an arm w interchangeable headshells or arm wands.