ZYX Airy 3 or Atmos

Dear Gallant_diva: As you say your analog rig is a modest one ( especially your phono stage that's critical. ) and other than that IMHO I think that you can do better to stay in the MM/MI alternative than to migrate at the LOMC alternative.

There are several advantages ( real ones ) on the MM/MI alternative against the MC ones ( this is not your thread subject and I don't want to start any controversy here, only an opinion. ).

Despite what pro-reviewers and the whole high end audio industry already made that almost all think that the " right and only " road is the MC one: IMHO a corrupted customer manipulation over the last 25 years.

There are many choices over your 150MLX like these ones:
http://www.lpgear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LG&Product_Code=NAGAOKAMP050&Category_Code=NAGAOKACART

http://cgi.ebay.com/Audio-Technica-AT20SS-Dual-Moving-Magnet-Cartridge-CD-4_W0QQitemZ160378648017QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item25574ff5d1#ht_694wt_1165

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ortofon-M20FL-Super-MM-cartridge-M-20-FL-Super-NOS_W0QQitemZ120492170569QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c0de49d49#ht_2634wt_1165

http://www.elexatelier.com/bangandolufsenphono.htm

B&O MMC-2.

but as I told you there exists many more where its quality performance not only even the best MC samples but in some ways outperform it.

I think that the " humble " MM/MI cartridge is the best " kept secret ever ".

Anyway, great system you own!

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Gallant_diva: Against the Universe, all the LOMC I own and several other that borrowed by audio friends including: Ortofon A-90, Koetsu Coral, Air Tight PC-1 Supreme, etc, etc..

+++++ " And how can I audition them? " +++++

the only way is that you buy it, but you can do it and you can buy all of them for less money than one ZYX. Don't be affraid/worry because the very low price of these humble cartridges IMHO all of them are a " little gem ", IMHO it is worth to try it.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Gallant_diva: That try other MM/MI cartridges that you have no listen to, like the ones in the links.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.