Need New MM Cartridge Recommendation

Thanks all! I'm knee deep in research thanks to everyone. 

Thanks folks!

I may want to try something new, so I may avoid the Corus Black--even though it has been soooo great. 

I'd by the Ortofon 2M black in a heartbeat based on reviews if I hadn't spent so much money recently.  Now, I wonder if the AT150MLX will be up to the bill on the Roksan.  

Yes, I have the Nina tonearm.  Thank you for checking the stats and making a recommendation. Also, I'm off to check out your cartridge recommendation. 

I went with the Ortofon 2m Black.  

I really wanted to try something different than the venerable Roksan Corus Black.  The cart was, as the Brits say, a "cracker." Sometimes I would just grin and laugh at how great it sounded.  

I really wanted to avoid going in to the moving coil world, just yet.  

I will post a follow-up when I receive it and get it set up properly.

Thanks all!  I'll be back by the weekend with a review.  

After 72 hours with the Ortofon 2m Black, here are my initial thoughts.

This is a great cartridge.  It's got power and dynamics galore.  There is, however, a noticeable increase in surface noise, as compared to my Roksan Corus Black (previous cart it replaced).  The Roksan (made by Goldring to Roksan's specs) was quite a cart and so is this one.  The Roksan may have had a bit more finesse with detail and making certain jazz records sound holographic.  

That said, the Ortofon is terrific.  There is great tight bass with slam.  The cartridge feels like it wants me to have a party.  Very fun listen, not fatiguing or overly bright.  It has also been forgiving on records that the Roksan cast to the side as thin or not well produced.  

I guess you could say that it could have more detail, yet it makes up for that in terms of putting forth one cohesive presentation of sound throughout the spectrum.  Nothing is missing.  

I haven't had a chance to play more than 10-12 albums on it.  And I haven't pulled my speakers out into the room for true critical listening position.  I'm going to run her in a bit and post a formal review.  

Make no mistake though--this is a fantastic cartridge.  I'd be curious to see if the $350-$400 Audio Technica could compete.  $750 is rich for a moving magnet.  I'm enjoying it so I won't over think it. 

Fleib,

Yes, I have now had the Ortofon 2M Black running as much as possible.  
Surface noise is way lower than when I first installed it several weeks ago.  I don't think it's me getting used to it either.  I can remember there being more hiss coming off records.  It seems to be better behaved.  

Also, I really dialed in vertical tracking angle, tracking force, and azimuth (side to side leveling ?) on the Roksan Nima tonearm.  Imaging is way better and there's better balance between the low, mid and high end. 

What's more, I've been adding in bung port plugs on my PSB Imagine T2 loudspeakers.  Wow!  I'm getting imaging galore and sparkle on the top end, which I was longing for (not the fault of the Roksan Corus Black or the Ortofon--just tuning my speakers). 

I'm very, very happy.  I'm just super curious to see what a <$400 Audio Technica MM cart could do in competition.  At $750, the Ortofon 2M Black was getting pricy to the point of knocking on the door of going moving coil and buying a new phono board for the Creek Evolution 100A integrated to amplify the moving coil.  

I just finished listening to Getz/Gilberto and I have Sufjan Stevens, Illinoise, on right now (I'm just getting to know this album--it won awards 10 years ago and I never heard it).  Both records sound beautiful and real.  Great holography.  I had Eric Clapton's Unplugged album on this weekend too.  So lifelike.  I'm really enjoying this thing.  

I'd say price is the only drawback.  I just don't know where the surface noise went!  I know it was there during 1-20 hours or so.  I suppose cartridges do break in?  I've owned:  garbage cartridges as a kid in the 70s/80s, a Rega Elicit (I think in 1996), a Grado Prestige something (around $125), a Roksan Corus (a great cartridge made by Goldring) and now the Ortofon 2M Black.  

I'm loving vinyl again and listening to more music than ever. 

Let me know if I can be of help or answer any questions.  

Fleib

Here are the stats on the Creek Sequel: 

• Gain x100 (40 dB)
• Frequency Response
  10 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 0.5 dB
• Signal to Noise Ratio – 80 dB
• Total Harmonic Distortion < 0.03%
• R1AA deviation +/- 0.5%
• Output 400 mV from 4mV input
• Input Sensitivity / Impedance/ Capacitance – 4mV / 47K Ohm / 220pF
• Overload Margin 22 dB
• Suitable for medium to high output MM cartridges in the range of 3.5mV – 5mV output

Creek offers 3 models for MM, High Output MC, and MC. 

I've spent a good bit of dough recently so I'm going to hold off on buying stuff for a bit. I would, however, like to try other cartridges as I'm getting back into vinyl and my system in a big way.