After five years in Costa Rica, we're returning to the US. I have a Michell Orbe, Graham 2.2 and 12,000 LPs in storage. My phono stage can handle both MM and MC. Looking for a cartridge, around $1k. I've owned many cartridges in the past, mostly MC: Lyra, Dynavector, Van den Hul, Shelter, etc. I listen to mostly classic rock and blues but also love jazz and classical. I'll be building Pi 4 speakers (all premium components) and Pi 3 subs. Herron pre and 12W 300B SET amp. I'm approaching 60 and have rock musician hearing; not much above 4k and pretty bad tinnitus. So I'm looking for magical midrange, very low noise, good/solid bass. Tonal purity, very rhythmic, has to rock. That's why I'm leaning towards a higher output cartridge, probably a MM. Not sure I can still hear that extra something from the better low output MC cartridges.
I've done many searches and am thinking about Soundsmith; Carmen, Boheme, or their 103R retip. May be a Dyna 20X2L or Denon DL-S1. Looks like some interesting options from Ortofon (X5-MC).
I would appreciate any comment on the above or other recommendations. Very excited to be returning home. Thank you.
