Recommend a cartridge for my new TT


I'm finally getting back into vinyl, and I need some recommendations for the best $500 or less cartridge (new or used) to get for a Clearaudio Performance SE TT I'm buying. The table has the Satisfy Carbon Fiber arm. For now, I'll be running the table thru the phono stage (MM)on my Denon AVR-3300 until I see how things sound that way, but maybe get a separate phono stage later if it would make a noticable improvement. Speakers are Monitor Audio Silvers. I tend to listen to older music, all on CD, like Donald Fagen, Boz Scaggs, Tina Turner, Garth Brooks, War, del Amitri, Patsy Cline, Robert Palmer...., well you probably get the idea where my tastes are, though some classical is appealing also.

Any suggestions as to what would work well with this setup?
duvallite
Duvallite, allow me to add my two cents. I, too got back into vinyl after a few years away. I also had a Denon avr unit and i use Monitor Audio silvers ( s1 in my small room, s5i in my larger room). I have tried a number of carts from grado, audio technica, and nagaoka. When i finally upgraded to a seperate phono preamp and a decent Mc cartridge, i finally began to hear more of what a good analog playback system can provide. Today, my main system employs a Denon Dl304 cart into a simaudio moon lp3 preamp. If it were me, I would go for a Denon 301 cart or the audio technica oc9 on sale, and a cambridge audio preamp. both could be had for around $500, and you would have an excellent analog front end.
10x5 Dynavector, a class above Denon. And way, way, way above the Audio Technica.
If you are not familar with the Cartridge and Tonearm Databases at Vinyl Engine, I'd recommend checking each cart recommended here to make sure that they are compatible with the cart you are interested.

You can usually find both your arm's effective mass, and the compliance of your cart there. Crucial factors when determining arm-cart matches.
One advantage of the Audio Technica AT150MLX among the cartridges discussed here is its MicroLine stylus. MicroLines are usually found on $2K and up moving coil cartridges. They also last longer than other shaped stylii according to an boutiquey analog-based stereo shop I frequent. He said that MicroLines often last 2-5 times as long as other shapes, and he's talking from the perspective of a small specialty shop that sets up hundreds of turntables and inspects stylii routinely. I have five years on my original AT150MLX and it still sounds and tracks like new.

As for where it sits in the hierarchy of affordable high end cartridges, I think that is largely dependent on system matching. This cart is often matched with a Technics SL12x0 DD turntable, creating the impression that the cartridge is to blame for a midrange glare. The real culprit (IME) is the resonant frequency of the tonearm tube and the knurled collar for the headshell. Wrap those in Teflon pipe thread tape and that glare goes away. The AT150MLX was Absolute Sound's 2011 Cartridge of the Year, and is often cited as one of the best sub-$1K cartridges out there.
I very much agree with Johnnyb53 about top AT carts but THE BEST sub $1K is The SHURE ULTRA 500 with Micro Ridge stylus, at this very moment on eBay. For replacement styli the JICO/SAS (if needed), it´s even slightly better than the original Micro Ridge IMO.
Best of Luck