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

Dogberry,

I believe you are operating under a false assumption although I can understand why.  There are those of us in the colonies who totally understand and respect SME.  I do not own an SME V.  I do own other SME arms, but that was not my question.  Your reply is telling, however.  Wrong headed people apparently believe the SME V is not still considered a reference tonearm.  Never mind that it performs at a reference level that very few can match and in my experience damn few can even approach.  Thank you for your insight.

You don't compare vinyl to digital, you compare it to master tape dubs

Not me, mate.  I know what a full orchestra sounds like in a good acoustic.  That's what I use as a reference.

For level 4, the answer WAS Tranfiguration, now sadly defunct.  The most tonally neutral LOMCs I ever heard. At level 1, Nagaoka MP500 is as good a choice as any other.

So do I know how orchestra sounds, and small bands, and vocals etc.

Unfortunately, some tape masters deteriorated and their dubs will no longer be reference, in this case your original pressing record will be reference. And if you can find a successful test pressing..

I have little problem with audiophile "sound engineering", by the way, for as long as the essence of the performance is conveyed, but personally I would prefer doing it down the chain not at the source. On the other hand, many esteemed audiophiles use Koetsu and Lyra, so perhaps they are right to start doing it at the source. Still, I am a tape man and my philosophy is sometimes a little different. Difficult to bring out the full colour and vividness of the performance without adding some  colourations, doesn't it ? Koetsu cartridges, better Mullard tubes, some cables..