If I could get one of those cheap I'd sure jump on it. If it doesn't work out and you want to continue exploring high output MM/MI carts, look into the Audio Technica AT150MLX. It's not voluptuous the way the Grados are, but it is very transparent, dynamic, excellent at low level detail esp. for a MM, with excellent clarity and transients. Because it extracts so much music from the grooves I also find it to be *very* musically involving. And the stylus is user-replaceable for around $225. It was The Absolute Sound's Cartridge of the Year for 2011.
Grado Master Reference 1
So I'm piecing together a new system and am brand-spanking new to the AgoN community and was wondering what people's thoughts were on carts. I'm running a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum with the KT 120 upgrade from the KT 88/ 90s, Vandersteen 2ce Sig II's, the venerable VPI Scout and Morrow IC's and bi-wires. I'm also, for the time being, using the built in phono stage on the Cronus and I've rolled the tube to a Gold Lion 12AU7 from the EH it came with. As far as MM carts go, I understand people either love or hate the Grado Master Ref 1. What do you guys think? And let me know if this is in the wrong thread category. Again, newbie alert.