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Best phono cartridge under $350

...Yeah, I know. For 350 bucks you can't expect to compete with the stratospheric but like all things in life there is always the "Best of breed" type of performer in any given price range. The Turntable is a Project Carbon Debut Esprit SB with a carbon arm.   Any thoughts on the subject will be appreciated.

Best regards and Highest Fidelity to all.
morbius2130aol
smrex13
645 posts
 
Shelter 201 MM.  
invictus005
597 posts
 
Ortofon 2M.
donst100
15 posts
 
Yeah, Ortofon 2M Blue. I also have a Grado Reference Platinum 2 and I finally love it, but it took a lot of fiddling to get it set up right. 
bpoletti
1,531 posts
 
If your phono stage can handle LOMC, then, in my carefully selective listening opinion, an AT OC9/II is your best choice (shop around and you can meet your price point). If not, there are a lot of MM / MI carts and a couple of HOMC carts that will provide a lesser, but probably satisfying performance. That’s my opinion.
samuelb
9 posts
 
The Nagaoka MP series is, well, unbelievable.  Grado is nice but very colored and not as dynamic as MP 200.  If what you seek is reliability, value, ease of setup and replaceable stylus the Nagaoka series of MM cartridges is extraordinary in every way.  My comparisons have included Grado, Soundsmith, Goldring 1042, Audio Technica, etc, etc.  Try a Nagaoka and I'm confident you won't look elsewhere.

Best,

Sam  
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