AT440mla, ortofon 2m red, or JICO SAS tip for mx97


Due to an unfortunate cleaning accident, my cantilever on my Shure mx97e was bent beyond repair. Now I am in a dilemma. I have a Fisher MT-6330 turntable Low Fi I know but I have made enhancements. It's a direct drive unit but has a unique 120 pole motor and a repectable 1kg platter. speed is DEAD ON. I have assembled a Janus mat (dynamat and cork); a 680 gram record weight (custom machined with 45 rpm adapter) and choice plinth mods to quiet it down It is well leveled Was aligned to perfection with a protractor from vinylengine; and overall sounded way beyond my expectations
It is christmas time and I am torn between 3 choices I can score a new model AT440mla for 99.00 or ortofon 2m red or 129 for the JICO SAS Stylus

HELP!!!
bc5k
My apology, I was making a joke by saying 50%, as that is my issue with OPUS, that he plays with numbers. I thought that those interested would read the thread and see that it was a joke. Sometimes these things do not translate well, and I am not a good communicator of humor, apparently.

Funny enough, the 71% was calculated before bajawisconsin chimed in; he makes it three out of eight that had issues or 62% in favor. 38% with issues. Weak praise, at best.

Three of us in that thread had issues with the JICO SAS stylus. Myself, vanmetterannie and bajawisconsin. As I said, this speaks to sample-to-sample variation in my mind, but of course there are other possible answers. I have been called deaf more than once recently.

If one looks at reviews of virtually any audio product on the internet the majority are almost always positive. I believe that is because those giving their opinion are financially invested in the product at hand. Additionally, consumers generally do not have a large sample of competeing products at their disposal. It's easy to "like" something that we are financially invested in, and it's another to say that it leads it's price class and that is what many people are looking for, purchase guidance. As I point out in the thread, if popularity is the metric that we are using to judge audio products, we would all own Bose.
When I was looking around in the same price range, I looked at both the AT440mla and the 2M Red. Ultimately I went with the 2M Red, somewhat against my better judgement, because I'd heard the AT440mla more. However, I've loved the 2M Red. It has been a wonderful cartridge. At this point (just under 2 years) I would immediately replace it if it were damaged.

Its versatile, resolute, smooth, gets better with break-in, and seems to have a long life, but then again, the same is said for the AT440mla.

I think it's the objective of that price range to be a jack of all trades, and not super specific and theres a lot of overlap in the character of the different options. Makes the options not CLEARLY different at all.

That price on the AT440mla seems unbeatable though. If I had found one for $99 at the time, I would have bought it with out question.
Well I made my choice... Haven't received it yet though... But for all interested: Here is a link to the AT440mla that I didn't buy and it is a steal at 99.88

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009MK3A/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d4_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=11A3JS4WHFHSJBRW7J3V&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
Ok well I received it today... So here we go... Setup was not as fiddly as anticipated. There are some things of note however. It is like others have stated... A little shaky until break in.. Or at least I assume... I have compensated with the anti skate and a little tracking force (hopefully will speed up cantilever break in) Stylus overhang is radically different though; had to scoot the cartridge way up; but no big deal I got new headshell wires anyway. Even without being broke in; OMG!!! It is actually quieter than the stock stylus. I will posst more after break in.. but will have no trouble putting 50 hours on this quickly

Thanks
Ben