@crouse99
SoundSmith cartridges are Moving Iron, not Moving Coil, you don't need MC input for them.
If you are looking for NEW MC cartridges withing $2000 budget then Audio-Technica is a good choice.
But if you are fine with used cartridges then you can buy several top quality MM or MI from the 80s and i'm pretty sure they will be better than modern MC under $2000. Some of my rare vintage MM cartridges are better than $3000-5000 MC i have owned before. Buyin' several used cartridges within $2000 budget you can (at least) make your own decision what is the best for your system and your ears. Tryin' used cartridges you are not losing money when you sell them (which is impossible to do with new cartridges).
I will be using the phone stage of my McIntosh MA7900 (MC loading of 50, 100, 200, 400, 1000).... I am drawn to the Soundsmith line because they can easily be retipped but I have never heard any of their cartridges.
SoundSmith cartridges are Moving Iron, not Moving Coil, you don't need MC input for them.
If you are looking for NEW MC cartridges withing $2000 budget then Audio-Technica is a good choice.
But if you are fine with used cartridges then you can buy several top quality MM or MI from the 80s and i'm pretty sure they will be better than modern MC under $2000. Some of my rare vintage MM cartridges are better than $3000-5000 MC i have owned before. Buyin' several used cartridges within $2000 budget you can (at least) make your own decision what is the best for your system and your ears. Tryin' used cartridges you are not losing money when you sell them (which is impossible to do with new cartridges).