If you have the curse of hearing minor pitch deviation (most people don't), I'd say go with either the direct drive Technics 1200 or the cheaper Audio Technica clone. The Technics are solidly built, so you could safely go used if the newer reissues are out of your price range.
If you don't hear minor pitch changes, the cheaper world of belt-drive is your oyster. The Rega or Pro-Ject entry level tables will do just fine at a minimum price, and of course you can go up from there as your budget permits.
Hi:
About six months ago I purchased an Audio Technica 120xusb. It fit in my budget and improved overall sound quality of my system.
It came with an ATvm95e cartridge. It has a very nice well rounded sound. But always looking to improve or to explore, I purchased the Ortofon EM Pro S cartridge mounted on the headshell. It was fine. The sound produced had a warm feeling, though It seemed to lack a bit on the high end. I found out later that Ortofon cartridge was designed for DJ use.
Continuing my search for improved sounding
I decided on purchasing the Ortofon Red 2M. I had given the ATvm95en a thought, it has a slightly better stylus design, but I filed the AT for future updates. It’s a bit more expensive than the Ref.
Concerning the Ortofon Red, I bought it mounted on the Red headshell. It arrived very well packed with a stylus brush, a mini screwdriver, and extra screws. It had a snap on stylus guard. It had a nice astatic look.
Of course, most important issue Is sound. Here it seems to excel. Note that I am comparing it to the other cartridges I have heard and used.
It provided a nice bright sound with a good midrange and a pretty solid bass. Now, some would prefer a stronger low end, but I’m not a big bass fan.
I tested it with some mellow folk rock, Neil Young’s “After the Gold Rush”. The music felt larger then my previous cartridges. I heard some guitar cords in a more revealing manner. Next, I played The Who’s “Quadraphenia” album. It’s a nice mix of classic rock sprinkled with some nice big sound background music. The Red did a great job. In all areas the music was well represented.
So, I’m very happy with this combo: the AT120x turntable and the Ortofon Red 2M cartridge.
Each time I change carts I think, "This is really better than what it replaced." Then I go through my collection and wind back with what I started. Once you reach a certain level you are just making minor changes that are replaced by other minor changes. It's almost a silly game.
Line contact styli? OK, but then again a Denon DL103 ballpoint pen needle sounds great, too.
The best record playing invention was the Shure damped brush. In one of my systems I'm using an M97xE stylus in a V15Vx body. Nice combination. For a hybrid. Too bad Shure decided it wasn't worth the hassle to continue making cartridges.
Gotz to love me some pops n clicks!
I first entered this hobby in the early 1980’s. My first decent turntable was a Pioneer PL 1 or 2 or some such designation. A Direct drive, cost a little over $200.
When I recently returned to this hobby after a 3 decade absence one of the first differences I noticed was the accessories included with a turntable purchase. When I bought the before mentioned Pioneer, it did not come with a cartridge.
At that time I knew next to nothing about audio. So after I bought the Pioneer, I was surprised that I had to buy a cartridge. I bought a Shure.
The dealer had a display case with several cartridges, most priced in the mid $40. I remember there was a line of Empire cartridges and a line of Shure. I picked the what I considered the nicest looking cartridge. Lol
I remember the Shure had a black or brown body and a white stylus that had “Shure” printed on the front.
It sounded fine to me.
Later, I purchased one of the Empire. I can’t say I noticed an improvement. In fact I remember favoring the Shure.
Funny thing, I didn’t know the first thing about attaching the cartridge. The headshell was included and attached to the tonearm. I just screwed in the cartridge and played music. I believe I balanced the cartridge, but I don’t remember.
