My setup is pretty stable. Haven't changed anything more than digital & worn cartridges and vacuum tubes in decades. Fortunately, b/c I haven't seen the alignment protractor in years. Didn't knowingly throw it out. Just forgot where I secured it. A Van den Hul Grasshopper is mounted currently. Before that several VdH MC-One Specials, several Denon 103D, a Grado 8MZ, some inexpensive Grados, & a Monster Alpha. Left out a few short lived ones. Preamp is a Classe DR-6.
I started with F & G series Grados in an early Rega Planer 2, then a Grace F9E, then Denon DL103D. Preamp was NAD3020 then conrad jonson PV1. Rega promoted to WTT&A & preamp promoted to Classe DR-6 ~25 years ago. Cartridge impression is quality maps well to price. Different cartridges, even two of same model sound different. Personal preferences vary but Grace F9E was clearly much better than F & G series Grados; 103Ds a big step up from F9E & VdH a big step up from Denon.
Hope this helps,
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