Rega P-2 turntable: Best cartridge match for $ 200

Jim nice table, the only other table that I would consider, new, in the price range, is the venerable Technics SL1200. You do not mention what your phono stage is, but the Denon DL103 is a very low output moving coil. It is not a particularly good match to the Rega arm in stock condition. Denon does make a couple of very nice high output moving coils, the DL110 for around $120.00 and the DL160 for around $180.00, which I prefer to the 110. Both are a nice match to the Rega arm. Other nice cartridges are the Ortofon Blue MM for around $200.00 and the AT150MLa for $259.00 or so.

For this money, I strongly nominate the Technics SL1200, a Sumiko headshell, and the Audio Technica AT150MLX, currently available for $249 WITH shipping from J&R Music World. If that deal's off, LPGear has'em for $259. This is a killer deal; this cart's $399 at Needle Doctor and most other places.

I just put this cart/headshell on my SL1210 M5G and it's stupid-good for a total of $750. I never thought I could have achieved this level of musicality and detail at this price. With the Sumiko shell increasing the arm's effective mass to 16.5g, this arm/cartridge combo has an ideal 10Hz resonance.

For the Rega P-2 I would consider a Rega Cart.