Cartridge replacment time

If you like the Grado save yourself some money and replace the stylus for $150.00!
https://www.needledoctor.com/Grado-Gold2-Stylus

Haven't They made some improvements on that Cartridge, or not worth the extra $$$ ? All the improvements just in the stylus ? Mine is the Gold one. Thanks.

I doubt you will hear any difference between the two. If f you want go for the newer Gold 2 and keep the older one for a spare!

IMO, it’s impossible to beat the Shure M97xe and Jico SAS combo for a MM in that price range. It's not an ideal compliance match for your arm, but if the Grado worked, so the Shure surely will (pun intended).

@helomech 

it’s impossible to beat the Shure M97xe and Jico SAS combo for a MM in that price range.

It's pretty easy to beat that cartridge even if your replacement Jico SAS. The SAS is Micro Ridge, the cnatilever is Boron for an old SAS and Ruby or Sapphire for a Neo SAS. 

There are many more original MM cartridges utilized same kind of cantilevers and diamonds like Fine Line, Stereohedron, Micro Line, Shibata, Line Contact, Parabolic etc 

One of them is Glanz MFG-610LX is on ebay from the Japanese seller who's got a NOS stock of them. They are about $420 with FREE shipping worldwide. It's a Moving Flux cartridge made by Mitachi Corporation in Japan. Everyone should grab them before it's too late! They are brand new (unused). Look at the diamond and cantilever here

I have been using a AT-OC 9 with a AT arm on a Thorens TD 521 and I have never had any thoughts on changing either. My amp. is a Arcam Delta 90 , Nakamichi Deagon , Revox B77 Mark 2 with Bose 301 speakers. Keeps me happy in a 5 x 5 mtr lounge. 91 year old.

Good for you Englebert! Happy listening and welcome to Audiogon!

Hi Englebert -welcome - Bose 301s - thats interesting - I had 901s for many years and have a Revox B77 too (now on my loft).
If you find a Lyra cart to a reasonable price, you would probably like it - and not look back. I started with the Lyra Clavis in 1997. On my Thorens, with a SME 3009 arm. I liked it so I went further up in the Lyra line.

@chakster,

Those Glanz cartridges certainly look impressive but I'd question the condition of the suspension material after "decades" of storage. I'd probably be willing to take a gamble if he were asking $200.

@helomech audiogon members already bought several samples from that seller and you can find their posts here.

Averyone can return any item for full refund if they bought it on ebay, the risk is return shipping only.

I can say that only one of my 3 Glans had the issue with damper and that was another model.

If you wish to buy such amazing cartridge for $200 in 2018 the seller must be crazy to ask such a low price

In my opinion this model should cost at least $800, but he ask only $420 including shipping. It's great deal! 

Now that I'm getting older and less inclined to fool with gear, I recommend a cartridge with a relatively large and protruding cantilever so you can get it aligned easier.  These tiny cantilevers tucked in under the body are a PITA.