I have an Airy 3 Silver SB low output and installed it last weekend. It is not a forward sounding cartridge at all, IMO. It's dead quiet in the groove and enjoys the qualities Wrp describes in regard to resolving the innermost details in the lower registers and I too consider its presentation to be seamless. There is a rightness to its presentation from top to bottom and extremely detailed. It will be interesting to hear what it sounds like after some serious hours on it. Also, I have listened to the UNIverse on a Schroeder Reference and can only say that it's wonderful.
As a practical matter regarding your total gain, I went from a .48 mv Yatra MK II to a .24 mv Airy 3 and detect very little difference with my volume setting.
I'm not familiar with the 90X Shelter and cannot address a comparison between it and the Airy 3. I am very familiar with the 901 and much prefer the ZYX presentation. I doubt you'll go wrong though with whatever cartridge you choose.
As a practical matter regarding your total gain, I went from a .48 mv Yatra MK II to a .24 mv Airy 3 and detect very little difference with my volume setting.
I'm not familiar with the 90X Shelter and cannot address a comparison between it and the Airy 3. I am very familiar with the 901 and much prefer the ZYX presentation. I doubt you'll go wrong though with whatever cartridge you choose.