Thinking about new cartridge

The Denon is slightly lower output (mine is .29 mv) but
is a superb bargain at $298 through Denon Electronics USA.
I'm using mine in an SME IV and it is a terrific match.

You don't indicate what other equipment you own, or what kind of "sound" you want in a cartridge, so it's a bit difficult to know what to suggest to you. There are two cartridges, however, that I think ought to be on your audition list:
1. Grado "Reference" (0.5 mV output version) ($1200);
2. Dynavector 17D ($750).

The Grado is a moving iron, and has a wonderfully rich, musical quality to it. The Dynavector has been around for a number of years, but is one of the best moving coil designs, and it gives a number of much more expensive cartridges a real run for their money.

Tom, Cylinderking's gain of 56db is for his phono preamp only, where you are comparing it to your total preamp and phono preamp gain of 66db. If he uses a tube preamp which has high gain and low noise, another 20 to 25db of gain will be available for a total of 76db or about 10db less than the total gain of your rig with the Cotter. He may very well be able to get away with it though, as you point out, use of a fine transformer, like yours, may optimize gain and noise spectra.
Marty

Good point, Marty. Thanks. I didn't think of that.

Thanks all for your imput you all bought up good points. Jfrech nailed what I wanted to hear, someone who has used the vkp-5 w/ a .5 cartridge, may the hunt begin.