High Performance Moving Iron Cartridge Candidates?


I have decided to simplify my analog set up a bit. removed the fussy cartridges and SUT's, and am down to one external phono stage, and the internal one in my Trinov preamp. 

 

The Trinov preamp is MM only, and I don;t want to use a step up or headamp with it. So that means high output moving coil or a MM type cartridge. 

I read on these boards that a MI cartridge can have lower moving mass than a moving coil I would like to experiment. 

What are the viable candidates these days? I imagine most vintage ones do not have OEM styli available still. The Soundsmith ones are interesting, but get very spendy. This is meant to be a casual cartridge for me, but I will spend some money on it. Just not Air Tight or Koetsu money.  

What are other choices? Not typically fond of Grado I heard in the past. Otherwise I think Nagaoka is the only other one I know of?

neonknight

Among a slew of cartridges my long time favorite has been a SoundSmith Hyperion, but mine is low output and I use an SUT that cost as much as it did.  Not to mention two sets of interconnects.  I don't think that is what you want.  I also often turn to the Ortofon 2M cartridges for older acoustic jazz as they have the synergy I am looking for, particularly their 2M Mono SE which is available but maybe out of the EU only.  I prefer the sound and balance of it on old jazz records to even a much more expensive Myajima Zero.

As casually mentioned above, a Soundsmith cartridge can be rebuilt to as-new status for a small fraction of the entry fee. I’ve had mine for over 10 years. Rebuilt once. Sent in a second time and it was returned with a note stating all it required was a good internal cleaning. When it comes to higher end cartridges (that have a useful lifespan) I want to use it freely without financial worry. 
 

Even better, find yourself a bargain on a used Soundsmith cartridge and pay the fractional fee to have it rebuilt to as-new status.
 

The Voice is a great option. Don’t rule out the Aida. I have no desire to upgrade. 

Don't limit your self to just moving iron. Classic moving magnet cartridges can have low moving mass. For instance the lowest of all was probably the old Technics EPC100 MK4 with resonance at 100 kHz. Unfortunately it's not available any more. A good choice would be the classic Shure V15 5MR or even better the Shure 500. The suspension on these would be gone but find an old one and there are multiple JICI styli available. Or close to the EPC 100 MK4 is the Technics EPC 205 MK3 and a JICO stylus.

Did you mention the tonearm to be used?

ADC XLM/VLM was a favorite MI of mine but needs a low mass arm.