What are the most balanced relatively neutral cartridges at each price level ?

@billstevenson Do you mean to tell me the SME V is not still considered a reference tonearm?  I must be seriously out of touch.  Please define what you mean by reference.

As I've pointed out before, SME gets little love here in the colonies. Rest assured, you have a fine tonearm.

Question: if a balanced and neutral cartridge was available in the lower price range, why would anyone pay more for one? (I suppose cynics would say for bragging rights.)

Seriously, if a cartridge is balanced and neutral buy it. My view is that there is probably no perfectly balanced and neutral cartridge, merely approximations that get more expensive as they asymptotically approach.

My solution is to enjoy the sound of each cartridge. I can tell which one I am listening to, and I like the choice of which to use when I select an LP.