Baby Koetsus? ie, Poor Mans Koetsu

Gee, you don't want much...Koetsu sound for $250??
I've not heard the Koetsu Black, but for $250 the Denon 103R maybe your best bet. I read here (or at VA) that someone actually prefered it to the Black.....but who knows what the circumstances were?.
Anyway, I can vouch that the 103R is a superbly musical, coherent and dynamic performer. For sheer enjoyment and involvement in the music, the 103R rates off the scale. It does ok in more objective 'audiophile' terms too - at least when not directly compared to much more expensive cartridges. Superb tracker too. I've enjoyed mine imensely for the last 5-6 months.

From all I've read, the Koetsu Black is not made "in house" anyway. If I can remember who makes it for them, I'll post it.

The Shelter 501 and the Denon 103 and 103R, depending on your price point and arm would be the logical choices.

Definitely the Denon DL103R, same type of sound, but without the big price tag.

Everyone knows my love of the 103R.

My limited experience of one sample of a Shelter 501 (for a one month period) pointed me toward it liking rock and modern jazz but not having the coherence of either it's big brother (the 901) or the Denon when playing anything acoustic - be it bluegrass, chamber, or large scale symphonic music.

It's been my experience the Shelter line doesn't come into its own until you get to tht 901.

Please take this as one person's experience of a single sample of a 501 for only a month's time, and of and extensive sampling of 3 different 103R's.

As far as matching the relatively stiff 103R with a medium or low mass tonearm, I recently added about 5 grams (via a small brass shim) to the tonearm of a Dual 1228 for a visitor.

I was mightily impressed at the amount of music coming out of this rig. The turntables's owner wasn't as impressed as I was, but I am convinced that he was freaking out over my Exemplar horns. It was obvious to me that he was very disoriented, as he lives in the land of cones 'n domes.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier