phono cartridge help

You’re overthinking it. Nagaoka MP200 will be a nice change from Ortofon Blue.

I have to agree with @noromance. Perhaps from a different point of view.
 

My choices come from reading about how they sound like… mine versus what I am considering. Then a quick check on the parameters… although I have a Audio Research Reference 3SE… and a long history with ARC… so I just buy the cartridge that has the sound qualities I like.

Grado Prestige Series's is an easy recommendation. A positive thing about the Grado cartridges is that they are moving- iron and consequently not affected by cable capacitance. 

Back in The Days of Yore TAS rated the Grado FTE ($15) as the best buy in phono cartridges. My friend Les had one and raved about it! Grado as a business goes back to around 1960. They have always made excellent cartridges for the money at various price points. I have a Grado G1 mounted in an extra headshell to switch out with a Denon 103R on the Pioneer PLX1000 TT.

I gotta join in the chorus. Just buy the most expensive Grado that fits your budget. My Grados have always been unfussy. They've always delivered audio pleasure, with fine timbres, soundstaging and punch. They've always tracked good enough for me not to be driven insane wondering what record in my collection I should NOT play

So, I've been agonizing over this for nothing. Thank you all for taking the time to chime in, now I'll focus more on the sound characteristics of the cartridge. 

1st, get rid of the TT if you cannot adjust arm height.

I recommend a TT with an arm with a removable headshell, much easier to mount a cartridge, and option for multiple headshells with alternate cartridges, i.e. MC; MM; Mono in he future if you get hooked on vinyl.

Too many current ’affordable, well respected’ TT’s come with pre-mounted cartridges on a fixed arm. Simple to get started, especially for a novice, but kind of a dead end from my point of view. Initial cartridge is going to wear out, then what?

IF MM with replaceable stylus, of course you can just change the stylus and keep going. No ’growth’ in that plan.

Which cartridge?

I always check for wide channel separation, and tight center balance, to provide superior imaging, before I check further.

You probably know, others less experienced, good info here:

https://www.sound-smith.com/options-cantilever-and-stylus-shapes

an advanced stylus (microline, SAS, shibata, ...)

what cantilever material? simply a question of budget: aluminum is not a real compromise, but more ridged is better, I wont go stiffer than Boron, beyond that, they not only go up in price, they are easier to break.

Grado Prestige Series's is an easy recommendation. A positive thing about the Grado cartridges is that they are moving- iron and consequently not affected by cable capacitance

And the Nagaoka is moving iron too, although they point out their cantilever bears a special alloy rather than a sliver of iron, hence 'MP' - Moving Permalloy. It also doesn't care about capacitance, like Grados and Soundsmiths. The Nagaoka has the advantage that you can take a better stylus intended for a model higher in their range and slip it into a lower end one.

@dogberry +1 for pointing that out about the Nagaoka cartridges being moving iron type. Certainly better than MM types that are affected by cable capacitance! I do have one Nagaoka in my collection. That was attached to a Rabco linear track arm I purchased awhile back. 

The Grado is 9g and the turntable specs. are 5.0-7.5g 

Is that ok?

I'm thinking the Grado or Nagaoka, I wasn't looking at the Grado to much because of the weight.

Grade can be a little smooth and rolled off. I think you might be disappointed. The Nag has detail, fine bass. a sweet tone, and musicality. 

Thanks Noromance, I needed that.

I just bought the Nagaoka MP200 last night and was second guessing myself.

I would like to get to a point where I have a couple cartridges to choose from.

Thanks again for sharing your experience it is much appreciated. 

@1jafa , Good choice. Where in NH are you? I'm in Atkinson just north of Haverhill, MA.

mijostyn, I'm on the east side of lake Winnipesaukee.