MM Cartridge for music on the heavier side

Spend a little more and get an Ortofon 2M Black. Well worth the money and the best MM cartridge by many estimations. 

A friend of mine is the same persuasion and swears by the Goldring 1042. Personally I don’t touch the hard stuff, but I own a 1042 too and can attest to its virtues when playing other genres. I’d also choose it over the 2M Black, but that could just be me.

Thank you Mijostyn and Agrippa. 
I will look into these.

I recall now, after the prompt, that I did use the 1042 when designing turntables for a company. 

Thanks again

For this tonearm and turntable look for Stanton 881s mkII or Pickering XSV-3000 cartridges with Stereohedron tip, within your budget you can find even unused samples probably. Another absolutely killer option for the money is Audio-Technica AT-ML150 OCC with MicroLine stylus.

read this article first.

For a better cartridges you will have to expand the budget for MM, each brand i have mentioned have higher models for higher prices, they are better, but what i recommended is already great! 

P.S. I have a pair of Sl1210mkII with all the mods (fluid dampers, isonoe footers, complete rewired etc), not in my main system, but i know this turntable very well. 

Look at the Nagaoka MP-150.
Fits your budget at a hair under $400 new and delivers everything you ask for and more.
Still my goto cartridge for rock even though I have much more expensive options in my drawer to choose from.
It is a new current cartridge and replacement styli are easy to come by and fairly inexpensive.
Although I must have 600 hours on mine and it shows virtually no wear so you should get a long life from it.
Good luck.

Great advise Chakster. Thank you.

Thanks Uberwaltz. Never heard of Nagaoka.  Will o some research  on it. 

Never heard of Nagaoka.

It is a lowish compliance cartridge with bonded elliptical tip, nothing special, you can look at the specs (the compliance is so low ). You will never get a proper frequency response and a nice low and high extensions with such stylus and cartridge. This is an entry level modern MM and the price is very high for such mediocre modern cartridge as Nagaoka MP-150 (i paid $60 for it and this is what it worth in my opinion).
Also the life span of the elliptical tip is much shorter compared to the most advanced profiles like Stanton/Pickering’s Stereohedron or Shibata, LineContact etc. In my opinion paying up to $400 for this Nagaoka is a nonsense when Stanton and Pickering available online even for lower price (normally $350) ! Just make sure the stylus is genuine, this is Pickering D3000 for XSV3000.

Here is more about Stereohedron stylus from the manual for my Stanton.

Simply search online for users feedbacks about Stanton and Pickering models, people who really understand what is a good cartridge sounds like are fans of Stanton/Pickering.

I am pretty much adore them, the only difference is that i prefer higher models like signature Stanton SC-100 WOS (specs here), Pickering XSV4500 and 7500. Those cartridges are truly amazing.

Also if you will loot at the Audio-Technica AT-ML150 OCC you will find not only superior cantilever (Gold-Plated Beryllium), but also absolutely amazing MicroLine stylus tip (it can be used for 1200 hrs ! ) and PC OCC coil wiring and connection pins.

In this situation, taking in count the prices, i think the Nagaoka MP-150 is definitely an outsider.

This is the reason why professionals prefer Stanton, Audio-Technica, Technics in this artricle. They are definitely have an ear to handle disc mastering process. 

Chakster
Your opinions only remember!
Many very satisfied users of Nagaoka carts in these forums.
Being a modern cart means stylus are readily available to purchase unlike a lot of the exotic vintage mm you talk about.
Fine if you get a near nos example but not so great when you need to replace the stylus.
We both know this.
Not saying for one minute not great carts though.
You need move out of the vintage era sometimes and see what else there is out here.

And if you GENUINELY paid $60 for it then it was already worn out!
Cheers!

While I share Chaks love of vintage mm I know not everyone wants to take the chance on a 40 year old cart.
Even if nos it has still aged.
40 year old suspension.
40 year old wiring.
40 year old Bonding.
These are physical facts.
Maybe some like myself have already been bitten by vintage mm where the suspension collapsed after a few plays.
This can happen.

Of course there are many modern alternative to my suggestion of Nagaoka but to just disgsrd most modern mm as a whole is missing a very valid concern for many buyers.

I have a Nagaoka MP-500 (out of the OP's budget) and it is one of the better cartridges I own, compares nicely to some of my MC carts.  A little on the "warm" side (which I like) and nice extension throughout the frequency range.  

When I bought my JVC QL-Y66F turntable it came with a Stanton 981 HZS cartridge with the "famed" stereohedron stylus.  It sounded like crap.  I don't know if it was a bad match with the straight arm on the JVC, if the stylus or suspension was worn out, but I certainly wouldn't recommend someone get an antique like that.

Greg
Glad you brought up the mp-500.
I did see lpgear had them on sale right now for $699 which is very reasonable.
Now I have read your testimony I may have to buy myself yet another Xmas present..... Lol.

Some of the Sumiko models might also be a good match for the OPs needs too, a number of new options under $400.

The Nagaoka line of cartridges are absolutely killer. I have the MP-200. Paid $385 for it. It bested Ortofon carts at twice the price in shootouts.

If LOMC is an option, I'd also consider the Denon DL-301 MKII if you can find one.  I recently bought one on ebay for $250.  It's what's currently on my SL1200 MK 2.  Sounds great with all types of music.

As Greg said...….

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9iff4-denon-dl-301ii-mc-phono-cartridge-dl301-mk-ii-new-21842-c...

2nd the MP-150. I spin metal (black/thrash/etc), punk, hardcore but also lots of reggae and the 150 sounds really good.

Paid $250 for mine new. Can’t comment on the a$$ grabbing above as some people think cartridge opinions are a declaration of war, but I’m happy with mine.

Chakster, I wish I knew where you shopped if you can find NOS Pickering, Stanton, AT , etc vintage MM/MI, at any price with such ease. 

Much easiernow as it's narrowed down.
Nagaoka, AT, Pickering and Stanton. Too bad we cant do Cartridge auditions like speaker and amps. Not here anyway. I am very thankful for forums like these and especially those who take the time to help complete strangers. 
Thanks again y'all. 

Cheers, and a slammin' good 2020 to you all.
Let the music play
Jag

Hell Yeah Jag!

Enjoy whatever Cart you choose and turn it up to 11.

Cheers!
😁😁

Chakster,
I too, am a little bewildered by your opinion of Nagaoka. I am experienced with the Stanton 881S. Used one on my turntable for a couple of years. Wasn't a bad cartridge but that was back in 1977. Yes, it had the Stereohedron tip, but I fast learned of carts much better than it back then. Stereohedron is pretty much old school. The 881S surely is. The entry level MP-110 Nagaoka will easily outperform it. I know because I have had both it and the Stanton. I'm not guessing or assuming here.

I second the Ortofon 2M black, which I enjoy personally. I am not recommending buying a used cartridge, but I have seen them used for $499. 

Dear @jagjag :  Your Parasound can handle this MC and you can't go wrong with:

https://www.audio-technica.com/cms/cartridges/8e67b15a2a48de4e/index.html

thios is a great performer with nude square shank Microline stylus ina gold boron plated cantilever. You can ask for more and today AT cartridges are a warranty of very good quality performance..

If you want a MM cartridge then Nagaoka is one of the best today cartridges out there, you can buy with confidence Nagaoka that's a very all very well regarded cartridge design manufacturer and even they makes cartridges for other companies. Forgeret about Pickering/Stanton or even AT vintage ones that comes with no warranty or today re-tipping facilities.

@uberwaltz : """  You need move out of the vintage era sometimes and see what else there is out here..."""

I can see that still today you don't take in count that he is a sellers and nothing more than that.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

Raul
I like to give the benefit of the doubt in most instances.

Nice to hear you also hold the Nagaoka line of carts in high esteem, I have been and still am very impressed with my mp-150 especially considering the price.

Happy New Year my friend!

Dear @uberwaltz : I supported Nagaoka for many years when I posted in the MM long thread, as I said a warranty of very good quality performance levels.

R.

Enjoying this thread as a listener of the hard and the heavy in all classic and extreme genres.

Based on lurking forums, I’m not alone in finding the Denon DL110 high output MC cart an excellent performer for rock and metal. Works great in MM phono stages. My Ortofon Blue is punchy and crisp but a touch hot for long jams, and my AT 440mlb is sweet, but overall the Denon is the most musically satisfying, balancing warmth, richness, and detail for long sessions at any volume. I can go from Budgie to Cattle Decapitation with ease. 
Keep an eye out and deals can be found. I got my DL110 for under $200 on Amazon last spring. 

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-VM740ML-MicroLine-Turntable-Cartridge/dp/B01M6ZUXKE 

VM740ML is what I would get, if I didn't already have one.   The Shibata version is just under $400 and the ML is $329. I don't think MM cartridges really get much better.

I believe that you’d most likely enjoy a Goldring (1006 up to the 1042), Nagaoka, Grado, or Stanton 681EEE or 881 with a newer JICO or VividLine from LP Tunes / Gear stylus. I own and enjoy all of them. 

Thank you @technick
Leaning towards the AT and Goldring. I currently use the AT33PTG set at 200ohms.

I found the Nagaoka dealer. Will speak to him about it. 

Have a look at the audio-technica line of MM cartridges.  The stylus can be changed to suite your listening pleasure.  That feature is like having multiple TT's for the price of one!   I use an AT-150MLX w/ the stock stylus and for a change of pace an ATN150Sa stylus and it's Shibata tip.

@Vegasears, 
Thanks mate. That is a good idea. I guess the same could be done for the Goldring 1042 too. 

Also Ortofon

Jaglag,
Just my 2 cents worth, but don't get caught up in the type of tip the diamond stylus has. Over many many years I have had just about every type of stylus tip imaginable, and it always turned out to be inconclusive as to which was better. The total cartridge design and setup are key.

Thank you Mr_m1,
I agree that set up and design are absolutelythe key factors, but, if the cartridge translates what the tip picks up. I guess that after a certain point(pun) differences in tip design become negligible, unless one has bats ears. Thank you for the very eye opening input and bringing me back to the ground. 

jagjag,
Sorry for mis-spelling your user name. Didn't have my glasses on at the time.:-)