If you could choose just one MC cartridge?

[Jimbo]

I recon the Hana SL would be a good punt,the AT might be a bit bright and Hifi?

[CageyH]

I find the 150MLX less "HiFi" than the 2M Black.
I can see me ending up with both, and a 301Mk2.

[Jimbo]

Well the 301 mk2 is very cheap compared to all the other cartridges mentioned and I although I haven't heard the 150MLX,
I bet it would tick all the boxes for you.

The most stunning cartridge I have ever heard was Marco's Denon DL-S1 but I would say the 301 achieves about 80% of this.

I have had the 301mk2 running for a few months now and have been through a large chunk of my vinyl. I would say this cartridge has not failed to please on anything,it just does everything so right.

[CageyH]

That is another thought.
I can afford to get the 301 and the AT33. I just need to wait for 2Juki to get some stock of the 301.

[Audio Advent]

For 1K you can pick many many many broken super-carts of yesteryear and get them refurbed to an as-new (if not original spec) status for a further £750 or even less.

That way you can utilise the magnet/body/coil materials that would otherwise be out of your budget range for a new cart.

Vastly expands your choice and also makes your cart a bit more unique if you like that aspect. Didn't Analogue North used to have a trade account on here and show work of the type I'm talking about?

[CageyH]

That wasn't what was asked in post 1 ... at your prompting, Barry, the thread changed! Could you amend the title, please, and add 'at £1k new'?

In which case .... I don't have a favourite mc at that price point. It'd be a cartridge man music maker, or maybe a london decca super gold

4 years on, and I wish I would have listened to your advice.
I bought a Music Maker Classic on this forum, and I think it is a great cartridge. I hate to think how much you would have to spend to improve on it.