What Cartridge please?

shawn ...

Read the threads on the AT-ART-9. LP Tunes has it for under $1100.00. or for even less money, under $500.00, you might want to consider the AT OC9 MKIII, also available at LP Tunes. The ART-9 stays right up there with the big boys and outdoes many of them at their own game.

Shawn - since you are using a Denon DL110 successfully - you might be able to switch to a Soundsmith Denon DL103 or 103R - but verify the compliance first

I was using the stock 103 for a couple of years - then upgraded to the Soundsmith version of the DL103 with a Ruby Cantilever and a Optimized Contour contact line diamond for superb performance.

The mods were well worth the money and I retained the same sonic signature that I like - just with bags more details and clarity

You could even send your cart to SS for a cantilever/stylus upgrade

Take a look at their options page
http://www.sound-smith.com/options-cantilever-and-stylus-shapes#overlay-context=services

Soundsmith also now carries their own line of cartridges

Hope that helps

Bearing in mind your TT / tonearm cost, it doesn't make much sense to me to spend mega- bucks on the cartridge. Two of the best cart's I have owned in the moderate to medium-price range are the Shelter 501 Mk3 (mc), and the ClearAudio Maestro v2 Ebony (Mm). Both are first-rate cart's. If you want to step up a notch, consider the Lyra Delos.

Also available at $500-ish is the Audio Technica AT33PTG/II. It's not officially distributed in the US, but is easy to find on Amazon and eBay from Japanese vendors. It's also available on Japan-based audiocubes2.com.

It's like the AT33EV except that it has the boron cantilever and MicroLinear stylus, which is a quicker tracker and lasts longer betfore needing a retip--or so I've been told by my local long-running analog specialty store.

After some time (hours and hours) on the ol' interweb, I've seen the Shelter 501 and Lyra Delos come up several times. Thinking I may have to put them on my short list. But still open to suggestions.