Best Cartridge for $1000-$1350?

Now finally after 190 hours play my AT-ART9 slightly outperforms my AT-ML180/OCC sample, on the Trans-Fi linear tracker. The high register is a bit more refined, so seems I get more musical and natural performance from the ART9. My reference MC so far.

My next MC to evaluate will be the Highphonic MC-R5, can hardly wait to begin listening to this great vintage LOMC. It has been hailed as one of the finest MC carts so it will very interesting if the modern ART9 can hold its position. In my system.

No it can´t. Now with the vintage Highphonic MC-R5 no more listening fatigue which has been an issue with that ART9. Additionally the MC-R5 can be listened on higher volume level without increased feel of distortion I noticed with ART9.
Highphonic performs very dynamically and very cleanly, less artificial sounds and more music, and tracks all the Telarc 1812 Overture cannons with ease at 1.1 g. Absolute MC reference in my system today.

Actually I´m using 30 kOhm with my AT-ML180. And actually I did try 100 kOhm following Raul´s advice in 2014 (I think) and to my great surprise it and a couple of other vintage MMs like Shure´s flagship suffered from high register over emphasis, musically but not technically as the FR still was flat. The sound simply became somewhat harsh and unlistenable.
100 kOhm may work with Raul´s preamp but not mine. Frankly I think that 100 works properly and as it should only with 4 ch cartridges such as JVD. Because those 4 ch carts are designed only for 100 kOhm.
And actually the AT-ML180 and many other best ATs perform best at lower values 20-30 kOhm and very low capacitance at 100 pF IME. My ILLUSION preamp works at 20-30 kOhm range at best for all my MMs. My other phono preamps have "normal" 47 kOhm and are OK but I´d like to have lower values.
Interesting, isn´t it ?

I have two styli for the ML180, both sound better at 30 kOhm. I am sure they are not worn, besides a worn stylus will sound distorted and that I would hear immediately. It´s quite distinctive sound, like also sibilance is.
Following Raul´s advice for 100 kOhm was my biggest mistake in Hi-Fi in last forty five years. There are many experienced audiophiles also here at A´gon who also prefer lower values with MM carts. Yours and Raul´s 100 kOhm works best only for 4 ch cartridges because is designed to use with them.Yours and Raul´s statement about the superiority of highest values is absurd. For your system dependent maybe but not universal.

I use original GENELEC S30 studio monitors from 1991 as near field monitoring, their reveal everything in my system chain, in good and in bad. They have very flat FR going to 25 kHz ribbon tweeters and they have no mercy on anything. Does yours go that high ?