Hana el cartridge combined with the musical fidelity lx lps phono stage with a selection of loading plugs included on sale for $199 right now. The lx lps is normally $500.....yes the hana is $475, but worth every penny, and yes it’s an elliptical, but it is relatively quiet in the groove. The lower you go in stylus profile the less detail retrieval you will get, so I’ll put up with the occasional pop or click.. it’s a physical medium and you will never completely eliminate it. You can lessen pops and clicks by using methods to rid static. Like the zerostat gun, leather mat, clean the records, and the use of proper record sleeves. Concerning the direct drive table, I would personally buy a denon dp37f or dp47f used. Another cartridge choice, at a much more reasonable price, would be the audio technica at f7 moving coil. It retails for only $259. It is a medium compliance cartridge that will do well in most light to medium mass arms.
A new turntable under 500-700euros
I'm 63 years old and I've got 2 turntables 1) Linn sondek LP12/Ittok/Ortofon MC30Super and Thorens 160S MKV/TP90/Ortofon MC15Super. I switched to CD for the last 20 years for two reasons: I didn't like the sound of both turntables, it was musical but fat at the bass and dull and second I was used at the CD sound and I couldn't stand the clicks, pops and scratch of the vinyl. I've got about 1000 records mostly used but at good condition. Now I want to start listening again to turntable. I will sell the turntables and I will buy a direct drive turntable. Any proposition for a DD turntable under 500 euros or exceeding 700euros the most? And a cartridge under 200euros preferably a non elliptical stylus because all the elliptical cartridges I have heard are exaggerating the problems of the used records? I prefer a MM cartridge with conical stylus something like nagaoka MP100 or Sumiko Black Pearl. Conical styli don't have the detail of the elliptical ones but they are much more silent and subdue the imperfections of the records.Thank you all.