budget cart help


hey all, i'm new to the analog world and need a little help. i recently acquired a JVC QL-A75 turntable. the stylus on the cartridge that came with it is broken so i am in the market for a new cartridge. The local shop where i plan on having the cart installed has these in stock:

AT3600
Grado black, green, blue and gold
Shure M97XE

I am not looking to spend more than about $200, so my question is, which of these would be best? the cost to performance ratio is what i'm looking at. as in, i'm sure the Grado Gold is the best of the bunch but is it $100 better than the Shure? Or is there even a big difference among lower end carts?

I am not opposed to ordering something online and i was intrigued by the Ortofon's and have heard good things. so my last question is, what other carts are out there for less than $200 that would fit well with what i have? i was specifically looking at the Ortofon 2M Red or the OM10 or OM5E.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks
maidenhel

Showing 1 response by jrtrent

The best bang for the buck is likely the cheapest one. I haven't owned an AT3600, but I'm currently using their very similar CN5625AL (purchased locally for $32) and it's working great on my LP12/Ittok combination. From your list, I've also enjoyed the M97xE, Grado Green, and Grado Blue. Having enjoyed other Grado models, though just up to the Statement Platinum1, I believe the Green is the best bang for the buck in their line.

Dekay makes a good point about getting the right match for your arm. Grados worked a lot better in the damped arm of my Well Tempered than in the Ittok on my Linn. I don't know much about the Q damping of your JVC, but it might work a treat with a Grado cartridge. If it were me, I'd take a chance on the Grado Green. Nice thing about buying from a local dealer is that if he mounts it up and it's not a good combination, you'll likely just be able to try something else and not get charged for the one that didn't work well.