Linn Ittok IV II - The Best Cartridge Match ?

You might try the Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood. I use it on my Ittok, with good results.

I can report that I had for many years an LP12 Vahalla with and Ittok LVII and the first generation (Signet)AT OC9. I recently sold my LP12, but I found that the OC9 seem to be a perfect match for this setup. At a shade under 2 grams, it tracked just about everything, even the inner-most grooves with ease. If I had kept the Linn, I would have easily bought the AT OC9 II as a replacement.

Thanks for the suggestions. It seems that many have had good results with the OC9-Ittok combination. Still others have praised the lesser known AT33PTG as slightly more detailed than the OC9 and 'better' overall.

The Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood recommendation is also interesting, but I was tending to favor an MC. Ideally I'd prefer an MM that offered MC performance and detail, with low tracking force and a replaceable stylus... But all I can recall is the old Shure V15-VMR, which wasn't bad for what it did.

Audio Technica also offers another MM, the AT150MLX, a replaceable stylus design, for about the price of an AT33PTG. Any experiences with this cartridge or is the MC design always the 'better' sound? (There must be a long MM vs. MC thread somewhere on Agone?)

I remain open to either MM or MC, as my current K18 really sounds decent...But I may not know what I'm missing, not having tried a good MC. The Shelter 501 is also recommended as often as the OC9, but at a higher price point than seems necessary to a fellow who is moving up from a K18...and the 501 is also an option, not ruled out.